Pope County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Pope County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 11,363. It is the 64th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pope County is 45.6 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.5% 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 Pope County is $72,205. This is 18% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 0.9%. This is 77% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $242,800. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 82.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pope County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 6.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 6.2%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

23.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 94.9%.