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.

West St. Paul, MN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAMinneapolis-St. Paul MSAMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington#46/210 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

21,382

Median Agei

39.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

66.2%14,165

Hispanic/Latino

20.7%4,430

Black

5.8%1,247

Two or More

5.5%1,176

Asian

1.1%243

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.4%76

Other

0.2%45

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.4%515

High School Diploma

21.2%3,239

Some College (<1 yr)

8%1,225

Some College (1+ yr)

14.1%2,159

Associate's Degree

10.4%1,586

Bachelor's Degree

23.5%3,603

Master's Degree

7.3%1,114

Professional Degree

3.6%553

Doctorate

1%159

HS or Higher

92.5%

BA or Higher

35.5%

Graduate+

11.9%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$301,300

Median Renti

$1,282

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

57.2%5,595

Renter-Occupied

42.8%4,185

Total Units

10,312

Homeownership

57.2%

Vacancy Rate

5.2%

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$68,464

Mean Household Incomei

$95,268

Per Capita Incomei

$44,887

Poverty Ratei

8.8%

Unemploymenti

4.5%

Labor Forcei

11,586

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

668

Residentsi

864

Avg. Tenant Renti

$491/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

22 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing80 homes95% occupied$472/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers528 homes99% occupied$509/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 860 homes82% occupied$354/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $68,464/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $21K/yr

85.4%

Very low income$21K–$34K/yr

12.1%

Low income$34K–$55K/yr

2.5%

Who Receives This Housing

71.2% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

51.8% of subsidized households are minority

52.2% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

45.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

970(5.6% of civilian adults)