Stephen, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 526, Stephen'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

Stephen is a small community located in Minnesota, within Marshall County. The total population is 526. It ranks as the 487th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Stephen is 51.6 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 13.3% 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 Stephen is $71,250. 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 9.9%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $87,500. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Stephen is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Stephen is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.9%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.9% vs 6.4%).

Education

20.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% 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 87.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Stephen, 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.