Population 18,325 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fergus Falls
Household size in Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.21 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Fergus Falls is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.24, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the west.
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 Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.8 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Fergus Falls is 43.8 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 42.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the north.
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 Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Fergus Falls: 6.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Fergus Falls
Renters in Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.9% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.5% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.4% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.3% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Fergus Falls rent their homes (30.3%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 44.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the northeast. The renter share is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Fergus Falls: 11.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 3.3 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 Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Fergus Falls run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, 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 Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $586 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $632 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $746 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $899 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$313 | +$522 | +$606 |
Rent in Fergus Falls runs $899 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $313 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the east.
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 Fergus Falls
Bachelor's degrees in Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.9% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.4% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Fergus Falls than nationally: 29.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.4 points, mirroring the country.
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 Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.6% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.9% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.4% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Fergus Falls: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Minnesota. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.5 points, as it has nationally.
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 Fergus Falls
| Period | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Fergus Falls is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Minnesota as a whole (4.1%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Fergus Falls compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fergus Falls | 2.33 | 43.8 | 6.9% | 30.3% | 11.3% | 1974 | $899 | 29.4% | 95.1% | 5.1% |
| Elizabeth | 2.86 | 40.3 | 5.7% | 9.9% | 19.2% | 1975 | $1,061 | 29.3% | 94.6% | 1.5% |
| Underwood | 2.36 | 52.1 | 4.2% | 5.3% | 37.3% | 1981 | $900 | 29.8% | 95.4% | 2.5% |
| Dalton | 2.31 | 51.5 | 2.8% | 5.0% | 29.4% | 1974 | $832 | 28.3% | 94.7% | 2.6% |
| Foxhome | 2.52 | 43.6 | 5.4% | 8.7% | 11.3% | 1964 | $916 | 21.3% | 94.2% | 2.4% |
| Phelps | 2.25 | 56.5 | 2.3% | 4.8% | 42.1% | 1978 | $629 | 32.2% | 95.6% | 3.6% |
| Erhard | 2.49 | 46.8 | 3.9% | 9.8% | 25.6% | 1978 | $1,068 | 25.3% | 93.9% | 5.6% |
| Wendell | 2.41 | 47.1 | 6.3% | 13.7% | 26.1% | 1971 | $759 | 25.0% | 95.4% | 2.3% |
| Everdell | 2.39 | 45.0 | 4.9% | 8.1% | 8.4% | 1966 | $846 | 20.5% | 94.3% | 2.0% |
| Battle Lake | 2.06 | 59.9 | 2.2% | 18.3% | 48.1% | 1978 | $1,024 | 33.1% | 97.1% | 4.7% |
| Ashby | 2.47 | 45.9 | 6.5% | 13.9% | 31.2% | 1978 | $868 | 24.5% | 95.5% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Larchmont, NY · Morton, IL · Lewistown, PA · Lewisburg, TN · Lewisburg, PA · Lemay, MO · Lehighton, PA · Lawrenceburg, IN · Laurens, SC · Pembroke, MA
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 Fergus Falls. 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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