City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Birchwood, MN

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

960
Residents
$156,653
Median income
$461,800
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

Birchwood - the verdict

Nationally, Birchwood sits in the 95th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

95th
percentile, household income
82nd
percentile, home value
68th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Birchwood, MN

Minnesota's Birchwood is a small town, with 960 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Birchwood brings in $156,653 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.7%. Home values in Birchwood run a median of $461,800, and the median resident age is 41.3 years. About 62.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 68.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 3 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 200% from five years earlier.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,709 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Minnesota's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 83.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

960 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$156,653 /yr

Poverty 0.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Birchwood compare to other US cities?

Where Birchwood sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 95% higher than other cities
Home value 82% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Minnesota-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Birchwood's strongest outlier among Minnesota cities

Among the 784 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Birchwood ranks #33 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Birchwood only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#16 of 775
98th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 785
77th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#42 of 774
95th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#684 of 785
12th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#33 of 784
96th 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.

95thIncome percentile

95th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Birchwood's home value compares nationally

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

$461,800 18th percentile more affordable than 18% 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%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Birchwood $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 - Birchwood, MN Birchwood, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Birchwood, 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 Birchwood, MN median $156,653/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%
Birchwood, 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 Birchwood, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 62.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.4%

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

Population
960
Median Income
$156,653
Median Home Value
$461,800
Median Age
41.3
Poverty Rate
0.7%
Labor force participation
68.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
62.7%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
830 residents840 residents850 residents860 residents870 residents 202020212022202320242025 861 residents 845 residents ▼ -1.9%
Birchwood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 2
2021 0
2022 0
2023 2
2024 3

Permit volume increased 200% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.6%
Carpool
2.9%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
3.1%
Work from Home
23.8%
Other
0.8%

Based on 513 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 Birchwood sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Bird Island
964 people
Grand Meadow
954 people
Nicollet
966 people
Mazeppa
948 people
Sherburn
946 people
Welcome
977 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Birchwood's 960 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Amador Pines, CA
960 people
Cissna Park, IL
960 people
Greers Ferry, AR
959 people
Eton, GA
961 people
Silver Lake, IN
961 people
Tunica, MS
961 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Birchwood's $156,653 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Green Knoll, NJ
$156,630 median income
Forest Hills, MI
$156,618 median income
Southport, CT
$156,750 median income
Manasquan, NJ
$156,542 median income
Hoback, WY
$156,766 median income
Alpine, UT
$156,786 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Birchwood, 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 Birchwood, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.4% 10.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.3% White 84.4% Black or African American 4.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 10.5% 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 Birchwood 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
Birchwood (this city) 960 $156,653
Bird Island 964 $71,190
Grand Meadow 954 $68,750
Nicollet 966 $80,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Birchwood, MN?

What is the population of Birchwood, MN? +

Birchwood, MN counts 960 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Birchwood, MN? +

Median annual household income in Birchwood runs $156,653, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Birchwood? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Birchwood; 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.

What is the median home value in Birchwood, MN? +

A typical home in Birchwood is worth $461,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.