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.

Cottage Grove, MN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAMinneapolis-St. Paul MSAMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington#19/210 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

40,992

Median Agei

36.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

73.6%30,150

Hispanic/Latino

7.6%3,130

Asian

7.3%3,000

Black

6.1%2,513

Two or More

5%2,034

Other

0.3%124

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%27

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%14

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.8%745

High School Diploma

20.8%5,619

Some College (<1 yr)

7%1,898

Some College (1+ yr)

11.2%3,026

Associate's Degree

12.4%3,339

Bachelor's Degree

28.6%7,703

Master's Degree

9.6%2,579

Professional Degree

1.6%439

Doctorate

1.1%293

HS or Higher

95.1%

BA or Higher

40.8%

Graduate+

12.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$378,800

Median Renti

$1,783

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

88.2%12,696

Renter-Occupied

11.8%1,699

Total Units

14,487

Homeownership

88.2%

Vacancy Rate

0.6%

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$120,791

Mean Household Incomei

$141,179

Per Capita Incomei

$49,540

Poverty Ratei

4.2%

Unemploymenti

3.7%

Labor Forcei

23,165

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

112

Residentsi

340

Avg. Tenant Renti

$550/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

15 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers26 homes67% occupied$627/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 886 homes71% occupied$527/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $120,791/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $36K/yr

84.8%

Very low income$36K–$60K/yr

11.7%

Low income$60K–$97K/yr

3.5%

Who Receives This Housing

83.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

41% of subsidized households are minority

18.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

25.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

1,586(5.2% of civilian adults)