Mille Lacs County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Mille Lacs County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 26,912. It is the 39th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mille Lacs County is 41.2 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mille Lacs County is $71,455. This is 18% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 9% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.5%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $237,500. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 77.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Mille Lacs County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 6.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 6.2%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.3%.