Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Detroit Lakes, MN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

10,025

Median Agei

41.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

88%8,826

Two or More

5.7%573

American Indian/Alaska Native

4%400

Black

0.8%84

Hispanic/Latino

0.8%79

Other

0.3%32

Asian

0.3%31

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.4%313

High School Diploma

19.1%1,356

Some College (<1 yr)

10.5%743

Some College (1+ yr)

12.5%884

Associate's Degree

13.3%942

Bachelor's Degree

21.4%1,518

Master's Degree

8.5%606

Professional Degree

2.4%170

Doctorate

0.5%36

HS or Higher

92.6%

BA or Higher

32.8%

Graduate+

11.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$265,800

Median Renti

$954

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

56.1%2,501

Renter-Occupied

43.9%1,954

Total Units

5,137

Homeownership

56.1%

Vacancy Rate

13.3%

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$62,958

Mean Household Incomei

$101,055

Per Capita Incomei

$46,289

Poverty Ratei

15.9%

Unemploymenti

6.8%

Labor Forcei

4,842

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

437

Residentsi

592

Avg. Tenant Renti

$409/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

15 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing94 homes94% occupied$460/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers21 homes77% occupied$297/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8155 homes92% occupied$393/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $62,958/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $19K/yr

68.8%

Very low income$19K–$31K/yr

25.2%

Low income$31K–$50K/yr

4.4%

Moderate / aboveOver $50K/yr

1.6%

Who Receives This Housing

69.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

18.6% of subsidized households are minority

37.8% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

52.2% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

664(8.5% of civilian adults)