Searles, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Searles, Minnesota had a total population of 201, the 696th largest community in Minnesota, with a median household income of $80,625, which is 9% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 1.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- An exceptionally low poverty rate of 1.0% — among the lowest in Minnesota.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.9%.
Searles Quick Facts
How Searles 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 | 211 | 201 | -4.7% |
| Median household income | $79,375 | $80,625 | +1.6% |
| Median home value | $169,200 | $191,100 | +12.9% |
How Searles 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+)
Searles Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Brown County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Ulm | 14,056 | $64,449 | 9.2% | $204,200 |
| Sleepy Eye | 3,444 | $66,911 | 7.8% | $147,600 |
| Springfield | 2,125 | $59,434 | 11.8% | $122,300 |
| Hanska | 380 | $70,000 | 13.2% | $89,500 |
| Comfrey | 338 | $61,875 | 13.3% | $96,300 |
| Evan | 89 | $51,250 | 12.4% | $54,000 |
| Essig | 76 | N/A | 31.6% | $160,900 |
| Cobden | 12 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Searles
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahnomen | 195 | N/A | N/A | 7.9% | 61.2% |
| Lake George | 204 | $84,167 | $245,500 | 28.3% | 6.9% |
| Garden City | 194 | $81,250 | $177,200 | 12.7% | 3.6% |
| Twin Lakes | 197 | $72,500 | $244,100 | 21.5% | 25.8% |
| Sobieski | 192 | $76,250 | $190,600 | 17.3% | 5.7% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 201, Searles'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
Searles is a small community located in Minnesota, within Brown County. The total population is 201. It ranks as the 696th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Searles is 45.4 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Searles is $80,625. This is 9% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.0%. This is 89% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 0.9%. This is 78% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $191,100. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Searles is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Searles has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.5% of all residents.
Education
27.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Searles, 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 Searles, Minnesota?
Searles, Minnesota has a population of 201 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Searles, MN?
The median household income in Searles is $80,625, which is about the same as the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Searles, MN?
The poverty rate in Searles is 1.0%. This means approximately 2 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Searles, Minnesota?
Searles's population is 94.5% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Searles, MN?
The median home value in Searles is $191,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.4x.
How educated is Searles, Minnesota?
27.9% of adults (25+) in Searles hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.