Population 39,575 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Douglas County
Household size in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.23 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Douglas County are small: just 2.25 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Douglas County has smaller households than at least four in five Minnesota counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.0 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Douglas County skews older than the country: its median age is 44.0, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.3, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Douglas County: 7.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Douglas County
Renters in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.8% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Douglas County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (39.0%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the north.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.7% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.0% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.7% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Douglas County: 19.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Douglas County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $722 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $745 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $862 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $954 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$232 | +$522 | +$606 |
The median renter in Douglas County pays $954 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $232 a month since 2006–10, up 32%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the north; the highest are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Douglas County
Bachelor's degrees in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.9% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.9% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in Douglas County (29.9%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.9% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.5% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.8% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Douglas County: 95.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only six of Minnesota's 87 counties have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.0% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Douglas County has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Douglas County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 2.25 | 44.0 | 7.9% | 23.5% | 19.7% | 1985 | $954 | 29.9% | 95.8% | 3.0% |
| Pope County | 2.29 | 45.7 | 6.1% | 16.5% | 20.0% | 1970 | $1,007 | 24.3% | 95.6% | 1.2% |
| Grant County | 2.44 | 43.6 | 9.6% | 20.8% | 19.2% | 1968 | $848 | 20.6% | 94.6% | 2.8% |
| Todd County | 2.49 | 43.1 | 9.3% | 17.0% | 18.9% | 1973 | $951 | 16.2% | 89.9% | 3.9% |
| Stevens County | 2.40 | 34.3 | 5.7% | 36.6% | 7.8% | 1969 | $956 | 32.2% | 93.5% | 1.8% |
| Otter Tail County | 2.41 | 45.9 | 6.5% | 20.5% | 24.5% | 1978 | $900 | 27.7% | 94.0% | 4.5% |
| Morrison County | 2.41 | 43.8 | 9.3% | 19.4% | 9.8% | 1977 | $871 | 19.2% | 92.9% | 4.1% |
| Stearns County | 2.53 | 37.2 | 8.9% | 32.1% | 8.2% | 1983 | $1,133 | 29.1% | 92.0% | 4.3% |
| Traverse County | 2.46 | 46.2 | 5.6% | 18.2% | 29.8% | 1964 | $707 | 16.8% | 94.7% | 4.2% |
| Wilkin County | 2.34 | 42.1 | 9.5% | 20.3% | 10.6% | 1968 | $1,167 | 22.1% | 93.2% | 4.3% |
| Benton County | 2.49 | 37.0 | 12.2% | 33.3% | 5.9% | 1987 | $1,176 | 26.8% | 92.8% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Highland County, OH · Isle of Wight County, VA · Isabela Municipio, PR · Independence County, AR · Iberville Parish, LA · Huron County, MI · Huntingdon County, PA · Holmes County, OH · Hillsdale County, MI · Jackson County, IN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Douglas County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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