Mountain Iron, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Mountain Iron, Minnesota had a total population of 2,860, the 216th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $83,293, which is 6% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
Mountain Iron Quick Facts
How Mountain Iron Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,865 | 2,860 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $81,607 | $83,293 | +2.1% |
| Median home value | $180,700 | $192,800 | +6.7% |
How Mountain Iron Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Mountain Iron Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in St. Louis County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | 87,093 | $68,807 | 16.8% | $242,700 |
| Hibbing | 16,057 | $55,789 | 16.2% | $130,200 |
| Hermantown | 10,218 | $90,849 | 5.4% | $382,300 |
| Virginia | 8,332 | $51,720 | 18.0% | $120,600 |
| Chisholm | 4,712 | $50,891 | 14.0% | $109,200 |
| Rice Lake | 4,153 | $89,663 | 7.2% | $309,600 |
| Eveleth | 3,448 | $50,725 | 14.8% | $97,600 |
| Ely | 3,240 | $43,901 | 13.9% | $157,300 |
| Proctor | 3,100 | $67,377 | 5.8% | $224,700 |
| Hoyt Lakes | 2,064 | $65,764 | 7.3% | $93,300 |
Cities Similar to Mountain Iron
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caledonia | 2,820 | $76,477 | $157,900 | 17.0% | 8.9% |
| Dodge Center | 2,880 | $93,884 | $197,600 | 16.7% | 3.7% |
| Breezy Point | 2,687 | $85,938 | $340,800 | 32.5% | 6.2% |
| Lexington | 2,770 | $75,347 | $289,800 | 25.0% | 8.6% |
| Lake Crystal | 2,606 | $83,317 | $204,400 | 27.6% | 7.8% |
Population Overview
Mountain Iron is a small community located in Minnesota, within St. Louis County. The total population is 2,860. It ranks as the 216th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Mountain Iron is 47.5 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Mountain Iron is $83,293. This is 6% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.5%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $192,800. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Mountain Iron is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Mountain Iron has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.5% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.9%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.
Education
23.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Mountain Iron, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Minnesota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Mountain Iron, Minnesota?
Mountain Iron, Minnesota has a population of 2,860 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Mountain Iron, MN?
The median household income in Mountain Iron is $83,293, which is 3% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Mountain Iron, MN?
The poverty rate in Mountain Iron is 11.5%. This means approximately 328 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Mountain Iron, Minnesota?
Mountain Iron's population is 95.5% White, 0.5% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.9% Asian.
What is the median home value in Mountain Iron, MN?
The median home value in Mountain Iron is $192,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.
How educated is Mountain Iron, Minnesota?
23.3% of adults (25+) in Mountain Iron hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.