Population 11,418 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Pope County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Pope County
Household size in Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Pope County are small: just 2.29 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. Household size has crept up from 2.25 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.7 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.7, Pope County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 44.7, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Pope County: 6.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Few Minnesota counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only six of 87.
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 Pope County
Renters in Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.0% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.0% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.5% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Pope 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. Among homeowners, 44.9% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.5 points, 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 Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.0% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 20.0% of the housing in Pope County, 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 has fallen 3.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Pope County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, 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 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southwest has the oldest housing.
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 Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $610 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $622 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $626 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,007 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$397 | +$522 | +$606 |
Rent in Pope County runs $1,007 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $397 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 33.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the west.
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 Pope County
Bachelor's degrees in Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.5% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.3% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Pope County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.3%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the southeast.
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 Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.8% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.5% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.1% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.6% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Pope County: 95.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.8 points, mirroring the country. Only seven 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 Pope County
| Period | Pope County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.2% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Pope County has been strong: just 1.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Minnesota county has lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 4.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Pope 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pope County | 2.29 | 45.7 | 6.1% | 16.5% | 20.0% | 1970 | $1,007 | 24.3% | 95.6% | 1.2% |
| Stevens County | 2.40 | 34.3 | 5.7% | 36.6% | 7.8% | 1969 | $956 | 32.2% | 93.5% | 1.8% |
| 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% |
| Benton County | 2.49 | 37.0 | 12.2% | 33.3% | 5.9% | 1987 | $1,176 | 26.8% | 92.8% | 4.0% |
| Roberts County | 2.87 | 38.5 | 14.8% | 28.8% | 21.5% | 1971 | $681 | 18.0% | 91.5% | 6.1% |
| Mille Lacs County | 2.55 | 42.2 | 11.4% | 22.1% | 14.5% | 1985 | $1,158 | 18.3% | 91.9% | 4.4% |
| Isanti County | 2.62 | 40.8 | 10.4% | 16.3% | 6.3% | 1988 | $1,339 | 20.6% | 93.2% | 3.7% |
| Marshall County | 2.56 | 43.0 | 6.0% | 19.7% | 31.5% | 1968 | $783 | 25.5% | 92.4% | 0.3% |
| McPherson County | 2.09 | 49.4 | 5.1% | 18.7% | 24.2% | 1964 | $637 | 27.4% | 83.8% | 1.1% |
| Walworth County | 2.13 | 41.7 | 6.6% | 23.8% | 17.1% | 1966 | $865 | 27.0% | 91.8% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Donley County, TX · Dimmit County, TX · Divide County, ND · Dixon County, NE · Doddridge County, WV · Dodge County, GA · Dodge County, MN · Dolores County, CO · Doniphan County, KS · Dillingham Census Area, AK
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 Pope 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.