City · Minnesota
Carlton, Minnesota
Carlton, city, in Carlton County, Minnesota. Carlton had 965 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 948 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 875 (±150). GEOID 2710018.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
965
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 948 · ACS 2020-2024: 875 ±150
Median household income
$63,375
±$23,539 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$201,400
±$29,487 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$970
±$100 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Carlton and what county is it in?
Carlton is a city in Carlton County, Minnesota. It covers 3.8 square miles of land, 249 residents per square mile in 2020.
Carlton is in the Duluth, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Carlton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 965 people lived in Carlton on July 1, 2025, up 1.8% since 2020, in line with Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 948 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 875 (±150).
| Measure | Carlton | Carlton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 875 ±150 | 36,518 | −223 |
| Households | 345 ±73 | 14,090 | −119 |
| Average household size | 2.13 ±0.27 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 357 ±72 | 15,896 | −132 |
Carlton's population since 2000
From 810 in 2000 to 965 in 2025: up 19.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Carlton 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.
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 Carlton?
The median resident of Carlton is 50.6 years old; 12.6% are under 18 and 24.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.7%.
| Measure | Carlton | Carlton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 ±3.9 | 41.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 12.6% ±5.5 pts | 21.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.9% ±7.6 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Male | 54.1% ±6.4 pts | 53.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 1.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.8% ±5.2 pts | 86.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±3.9 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±1.1 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±2.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.3% ±0.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.9% ±1.9 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±4.9 pts | 7.8% | – |
| With a disability | 19.6% ±6.3 pts | 15.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.2% ±5.7 pts | 4.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.1% ±3.6 pts | 93.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.7% ±7.5 pts | 26.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.1% ±5.0 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.7% ±6.5 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
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 Carlton earn?
Half of Carlton's 345 households earn less than $63,375 a year (±$23,539), against $80,573 in Carlton County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $57,915 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Carlton | Carlton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,375 ±$23,539 | $80,573 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $88,710 ±$11,875 | $99,202 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,059 ±$6,641 | $39,410 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.0% ±3.8 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.2% ±12.7 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.6% ±10.3 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.6% ±5.1 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.1% ±5.4 pts | 88.0% | – |
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 Carlton?
Owners occupy 67.2% of Carlton's occupied homes and renters 32.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $201,400 by its owner (±$29,487). The median renter pays $970 a month including utilities, and 32.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Carlton | Carlton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $201,400 ±$29,487 | $245,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $970 ±$100 | $1,009 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.7% ±14.3 pts | 34.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,477 ±$345 | $1,659 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.2% ±8.6 pts | 80.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.8% ±8.6 pts | 20.0% | – |
| Housing units | 357 ±72 | 15,896 | −132 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±9.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±17.1 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.6% ±9.6 pts | 80.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% ±1.5 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8% ±1.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.3% ±4.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 22.7% ±9.7 pts | 18.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.1% ±4.5 pts | 5.7% | – |
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 many new homes is Carlton building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Carlton in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 5.2 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Carlton work and get to work?
66.6% of Carlton's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 22.3 minutes.
| Measure | Carlton | Carlton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.7% ±6.8 pts | 59.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.5% ±12.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 66.6% ±11.4 pts | 78.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 19.6% ±11.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±5.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.3% ±2.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.7% ±6.6 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.3 min ±4.6 | 21.5 min | no 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 Carlton?
No census tract lies mostly in Carlton; 4 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 703Carlton County | 5,643 | $119,289 |
| Tract 704.01Carlton County | 3,854 | $63,707 |
| Tract 704.02Carlton County | 4,235 | $99,167 |
| Tract 702Carlton County | 4,493 | $60,142 |
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 Carlton) · Census block assignment files
How does Carlton compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Carlton is the 10,422nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 366th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Carlton 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.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 366th | 855 |
Carlton's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Carlton 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 Carlton?
22 of the 57 figures for Carlton 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 Carlton 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' public schools in Carlton.