Tonka Bay, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Tonka Bay is a small community located in Minnesota, within Hennepin County. The total population is 1,270. It ranks as the 325th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tonka Bay is 59.8 years. This is 54% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. Only 14.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.9% 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 Tonka Bay is $156,458. This is 76% higher than the state median of $89,062. It is also 94% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.5%. This is 63% 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 9.7%. This is 138% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $917,100. Housing costs are 178% higher than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Tonka Bay has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

63.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Tonka Bay in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 61% higher 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. Notably, 24.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Tonka Bay, 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.