City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Big Lake, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Big Lake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

351
Residents
$84,583
Median income
$251,000
Median home
$1,232
Median rent (state)

Big Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Big Lake places in the 66th percentile for household income and the 86th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

66th
percentile, household income
56th
percentile, home value
39th
percentile, median rent
86th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Big Lake, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 351 residents in Big Lake, a small town within Minnesota. Big Lake households earn a median of $84,583 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Home values in Big Lake run a median of $251,000, and the median resident age is 39.8 years. About 25.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Big Lake reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 472.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Minnesota scores 98.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,232 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Minnesota run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 70.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

351 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$84,583 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Big Lake compare to other US cities?

Here's how Big Lake stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 66% higher than other cities
Home value 56% pricier than other cities
Median rent 39% pricier than other cities
Safety 86% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Minnesota, Big Lake ranks #66 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Big Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Big Lake near the bottom of Minnesota's cities

Among the 785 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Big Lake ranks #693 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Big Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#230 of 775
70th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#204 of 785
70th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#212 of 774
73rd percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#693 of 785
0th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#288 of 784
63rd percentile in Minnesota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Minnesota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

66thIncome percentile
86thSafety percentile

66th percentile nationally for median household income · 86th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Big Lake's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Big Lake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 68 Avg. percentile National median
Big Lake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Big Lake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$251,000 44th percentile more affordable than 44% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Big Lake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Big Lake, MN Big Lake, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Big Lake, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Big Lake, MN median $84,583/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Big Lake, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Big Lake, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
351
Median Income
$84,583
Median Home Value
$251,000
Median Age
39.8
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
51.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
472.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
131.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
341.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.8%
Carpool
11.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.4%
Work from Home
5.5%
Other
0.7%

Based on 146 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Big Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,232/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
70.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Rushmore
351 people
Willow River
351 people
Remer
348 people
Jeffers
355 people
Kelliher
347 people
Wykoff
356 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Big Lake's 351 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bluffton, GA
351 people
Ute, IA
351 people
Hunters Hollow, KY
351 people
Leitersburg, MD
351 people
Oakdale, NE
351 people
Saddle Rock Estates, NY
351 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Big Lake's $84,583 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cantrall, IL
$84,583 median income
Hillsdale, IL
$84,583 median income
Frankenmuth, MI
$84,583 median income
New Hampton, NH
$84,583 median income
Dunnstown, PA
$84,583 median income
Georgetown, PA
$84,583 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Big Lake, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Big Lake, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 65.0% 28.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.0% White 65.0% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 0.6% American Indian 28.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Big Lake compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Big Lake (this city) 351 $84,583
Rushmore 351 $39,205
Willow River 351 $52,188
Remer 348 $42,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Big Lake, MN?

What is the population of Big Lake, MN? +

The population of Big Lake, MN stands at 351 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Big Lake, MN? +

Big Lake households earn a median of $84,583 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Big Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Big Lake; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

Is Big Lake, MN safe? +

Big Lake has a total crime rate of 472.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Big Lake, MN? +

Homes in Big Lake carry a median value of $251,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.