Township · Minnesota

Bay Lake Township, Minnesota

Bay Lake Township, township, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Bay Lake Township had 984 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 921 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,035 (±133). GEOID 2703504096.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

984

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 921 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,035 ±133

Median household income

$74,286

±$17,765 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$434,400

±$46,330 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$1,337

±$55 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

Where is Bay Lake Township and what county is it in?

Bay Lake Township is a township in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It covers 27.3 square miles of land, 34 residents per square mile in 2020.

Bay Lake Township is in the Brainerd, MN micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Bay Lake Township (marked with a dot) in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Bay Lake Township, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 984 people lived in Bay Lake Township on July 1, 2025, up 6.4% since 2020, faster than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 921 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,035 (±133).

  • July 2020→2021 +16 (943)
  • 2021→2022 +8 (951)
  • 2022→2023 +8 (959)
  • 2023→2024 +18 (977)
  • 2024→2025 +7 (984)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureBay Lake TownshipCrow Wing CountyMinnesotaChange since 2015-2019
Total population1,035±13367,6865,739,445no clear change
Households526±7329,4022,307,955no clear change
Average household size1.96±0.142.262.43no clear change
Housing units1,438±12742,6832,545,030no clear change

Bay Lake Township's population since 2000

From 923 in 2000 to 984 in 2025: up 6.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bay Lake Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 923
  • 2005 (estimate) 936
  • 2010 Census 929
  • 2015 (estimate) 951
  • 2020 Census 921
  • 2025 (estimate) 984

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Bay Lake Township?

The median resident of Bay Lake Township is 63.5 years old; 9.5% are under 18 and 46.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 99.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 0.9%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureBay Lake TownshipCrow Wing CountyMinnesotaChange since 2015-2019
Median age63.5±2.345.738.8no clear change
Under 18 years9.5%±3.5 pts20.5%22.9%–
65 years and over46.2%±6.2 pts24.5%17.3%–
Male54.6%±3.8 pts50.0%50.1%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.0%±2.1 pts1.6%6.4%–
White alone, not Hispanic99.1%±0.9 pts93.2%75.9%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±2.1 pts0.5%6.9%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±2.1 pts0.4%5.1%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±2.1 pts0.7%0.7%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±2.1 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic0.9%±0.9 pts3.1%4.5%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±2.1 pts0.5%0.5%–
Born outside the United States0.3%±0.4 pts1.3%8.7%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)0.8%±1.0 pts2.0%12.4%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)13.6%±3.8 pts8.3%5.9%–
With a disability12.4%±2.8 pts15.9%11.6%–
No health insurance coverage1.5%±1.6 pts5.2%4.7%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)97.7%±1.8 pts94.6%93.9%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)42.9%±6.4 pts29.3%39.4%+14.7 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)10.7%±2.9 pts9.6%13.8%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier91.7%±4.7 pts91.1%87.8%–
Moved from another state in the past year0.2%±0.4 pts1.5%1.8%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Bay Lake Township earn?

Half of Bay Lake Township's 526 households earn less than $74,286 a year (±$17,765), against $72,589 in Crow Wing County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $76,534 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureBay Lake TownshipCrow Wing CountyMinnesotaChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$74,286±$17,765$72,589$89,062no clear change
Mean household income$119,420±$21,108$95,168$118,304–
Per capita income$62,258±$10,949$41,886$48,237+$16,172
People below the poverty line6.6%±2.9 pts9.9%9.3%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line0.0%±22.7 pts12.6%10.3%–
Households receiving SNAP4.0%±3.2 pts8.7%7.9%–
Households with a computer94.5%±4.6 pts96.3%95.8%–
Households with a broadband subscription92.6%±4.8 pts89.9%91.6%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Bay Lake Township?

Owners occupy 92.6% of Bay Lake Township's occupied homes and renters 7.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $434,400 by its owner (±$46,330). The median renter pays $1,337 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureBay Lake TownshipCrow Wing CountyMinnesotaChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$434,400±$46,330$306,800$329,300+$116,512
Median gross rent$1,337±$55$971$1,280–
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent23.5%±26.2 pts33.8%38.4%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,900±$90$1,613$1,947–
Owner-occupied homes92.6%±4.4 pts77.0%72.2%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes7.4%±4.4 pts23.0%27.8%–
Housing units1,438±12742,6832,545,030no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.4%±1.0 pts0.4%0.6%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±39.5 pts1.5%5.3%–
Single-family detached homes90.3%±2.9 pts80.1%66.0%–
Mobile homes5.4%±2.5 pts5.0%2.9%–
Built 2020 or later0.7%±0.5 pts1.5%1.9%–
Built 2010 to 20195.9%±2.6 pts9.6%8.5%–
Built 1939 or earlier7.5%±3.3 pts7.8%15.6%–
Households with no vehicle0.0%±4.2 pts4.9%6.7%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in Bay Lake Township work and get to work?

57.2% of Bay Lake Township's workers drive alone and 29.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureBay Lake TownshipCrow Wing CountyMinnesotaChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)43.0%±5.5 pts59.6%68.1%–
Unemployment rate6.4%±4.1 pts5.5%4.1%–
Drove alone to work57.2%±7.1 pts73.8%68.9%–
Carpooled7.0%±4.8 pts9.2%7.5%–
Public transportation0.0%±5.8 pts0.3%1.8%–
Walked1.6%±2.9 pts1.8%2.5%–
Worked from home29.7%±6.7 pts13.2%17.6%+21.8 pts
Mean travel time to work32.3 min±7.023.1 min22.7 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Bay Lake Township?

1 census tract lies mostly in Bay Lake Township, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Bay Lake Township, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Bay Lake Township
Tract 9508.01Crow Wing County2,176 $86,250 $424,80060%
Tract 9516Crow Wing County2,473 $76,250 $270,3002%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bay Lake Township) · Census block assignment files

How does Bay Lake Township compare with other places in Minnesota?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bay Lake Township is the 7,720th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 225th-most populous of 1,772 in Minnesota.

Bay Lake Township is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.

Bay Lake Township's rank in Minnesota (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate225th1,772

Bay Lake Township's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)

Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Bay Lake Township with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Bay Lake Township?

21 of the 57 figures for Bay Lake Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bay Lake Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.