Peterson, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 244, Peterson's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Peterson is a small community located in Minnesota, within Fillmore County. The total population is 244. It ranks as the 650th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Peterson is 29.8 years. This is 23% lower than the state median of 38.8 years. 11.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Peterson is $71,000. This is 20% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.9%. This is 50% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 0.8%. This is 80% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $133,900. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Peterson is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Peterson has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

13.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% 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 98.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Peterson, 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.