Population 10,879 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake County
Household size in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.06 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.11 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.00 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Lake County is a place of small households, averaging 2.21 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.06 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only five of Minnesota's 87 counties have smaller households.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.6 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.4 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.4, Lake County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 47.2 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only three of Minnesota's 87 counties are older.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.0% of households in Lake County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Minnesota counties, Lake County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
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 Lake County
Renters in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.5% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lake County is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (43.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 3.6 points since 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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.2% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Lake County: 25.2% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Lake County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $611 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $876 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $761 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,098 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$487 | +$522 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lake County pays $1,098 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $487 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 24.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Lake County
Bachelor's degrees in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.9% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.8% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.5% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.9% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Lake County than nationally: 25.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.0 points since 2006–10, 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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.2% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.5% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.7% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lake County: 94.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Minnesota. The share with a diploma is up 1.5 points from 2006–10, 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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Lake County has been strong: just 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | 2.21 | 49.4 | 8.0% | 16.5% | 25.2% | 1965 | $1,098 | 25.9% | 94.7% | 2.4% |
| St. Louis County | 2.26 | 42.6 | 8.4% | 28.8% | 12.8% | 1962 | $1,197 | 34.2% | 95.0% | 4.9% |
| Douglas County | 2.27 | 44.0 | 8.2% | 28.1% | 14.5% | 1966 | $1,021 | 28.7% | 94.4% | 3.0% |
| Carlton County | 2.40 | 41.1 | 10.2% | 20.0% | 10.5% | 1974 | $1,034 | 27.2% | 93.6% | 5.1% |
| Itasca County | 2.40 | 47.9 | 8.0% | 17.0% | 22.8% | 1978 | $1,007 | 26.0% | 95.0% | 5.6% |
| Ontonagon County | 1.84 | 58.6 | 4.2% | 12.9% | 37.0% | 1961 | $555 | 18.4% | 94.5% | 5.3% |
| Cass County | 2.44 | 48.2 | 8.9% | 13.8% | 38.9% | 1990 | $976 | 25.7% | 94.0% | 6.9% |
| Houghton County | 2.39 | 36.4 | 7.1% | 28.2% | 21.0% | 1962 | $995 | 41.4% | 94.1% | 5.9% |
| Baraga County | 2.10 | 47.2 | 7.7% | 21.5% | 27.2% | 1971 | $617 | 15.3% | 92.0% | 5.0% |
| Keweenaw County | 1.85 | 54.3 | 7.4% | 9.3% | 43.3% | 1954 | $770 | 38.2% | 95.5% | 2.4% |
| Beltrami County | 2.53 | 37.1 | 14.6% | 29.9% | 15.3% | 1986 | $1,028 | 30.7% | 92.2% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lincoln County, MT · Luquillo Municipio, PR · Los Alamos County, NM · Long County, GA · Livingston County, MO · Little River County, AR · Lincoln County, WY · Lincoln County, WV · Lincoln County, NM · Macon County, AL
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 Lake 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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