City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Cass Lake, MN

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

492
Residents
$47,045
Median income
$109,100
Median home
$1,008
Median rent (state)

Cass Lake - the verdict

Cass Lake ranks in the 15th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

15th
percentile, household income
13th
percentile, home value
20th
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: Cass Lake, MN

492 people live in Cass Lake, Minnesota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $47,045 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.5%. Cass Lake's housing stock carries a median value of $109,100, and the median resident age is 34.8 years. 21.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Cass Lake (Construction Slowdown), down 50% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 40.0°F with 26.5 inches of precipitation per year and 48.9 inches of snowfall.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,008 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 35.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

492 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$47,045 /yr

Poverty 20.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Cass Lake compare to other US cities?

Cass Lake measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 15% higher than other cities
Home value 13% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% 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 Cass 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 is Cass Lake's strongest outlier among Minnesota cities

Among the 785 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Cass Lake ranks #38 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cass Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#699 of 775
10th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#460 of 785
41st percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#597 of 774
23rd percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#38 of 785
95th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#360 of 784
54th 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.

15thIncome percentile

15th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cass Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$109,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 87% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $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. Cass 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 - Cass Lake, MN Cass Lake, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cass 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 Cass Lake, MN median $47,045/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%
Cass 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 Cass Lake, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.1%

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

Population
492
Median Income
$47,045
Median Home Value
$109,100
Median Age
34.8
Poverty Rate
20.5%
Labor force participation
52.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
40.0°F
Annual Precipitation
26.5"
Annual Snowfall
48.9"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
675 residents680 residents685 residents690 residents 202020212022202320242025 677 residents 677 residents ▲ +0.0%
Cass Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 1
2021 0
2022 0
2023 4
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
57.0%
Carpool
31.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
5.2%
Other
3.7%

Based on 135 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 Cass Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,008/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
35.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Barnum
491 people
Fountain
490 people
Lyle
490 people
Ottertail
490 people
Pillager
494 people
Bertha
489 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cass Lake's 492 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East Fork, AZ
492 people
Granada, CO
492 people
Wilsonville, IL
492 people
Spring Grove, IN
492 people
Strong City, KS
492 people
Uniontown, KS
492 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cass Lake's $47,045 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

San Saba, TX
$47,045 median income
Chestertown, MD
$47,047 median income
Carmi, IL
$47,051 median income
Cheney, WA
$47,039 median income
Pymatuning South, PA
$47,054 median income
Capitol View, SC
$47,054 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cass 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 Cass Lake, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 13.0% 68.1% 7.9% 11.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.4% White 13.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 68.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 7.9% Two or more races 11.0% 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 Cass 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
Cass Lake (this city) 492 $47,045
Barnum 491 $49,583
Fountain 490 $72,750
Lyle 490 $59,000
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cass Lake, MN?

What is the population of Cass Lake, MN? +

492 people live in Cass Lake, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Cass Lake runs $47,045, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cass Lake? +

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

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

A typical home in Cass Lake is worth $109,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Cass Lake? +

Climate normals put Cass Lake's yearly average temperature at 40.0°F, 26.5 inches of precipitation, and 48.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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.