City · Minnesota
Clearwater, Minnesota
Clearwater, city, mostly in Wright County (99.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Stearns County, Minnesota. Clearwater had 2,225 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 16.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,922 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,970 (±272). GEOID 2711800.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,225
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,922 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,970 ±272
Median household income
$91,346
±$20,573 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$271,800
±$26,210 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$1,091
±$97 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Clearwater and what county is it in?
Clearwater is a city mostly in Wright County (99.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Stearns County, Minnesota. It covers 1.8 square miles of land, 1,076 residents per square mile in 2020.
Clearwater is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 15 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wright County | 1,918 | 99.8% |
| Stearns County | 4 | 0.2% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Clearwater, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,225 people lived in Clearwater on July 1, 2025, up 16.0% since 2020, faster than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 1,922 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,970 (±272).
| Measure | Clearwater | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,970 ±272 | 148,269 | no clear change |
| Households | 784 ±80 | 54,010 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.51 ±0.27 | 2.72 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 784 ±80 | 57,416 | no clear change |
Clearwater's population since 2000
From 858 in 2000 to 2,225 in 2025: up 159.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Clearwater 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 Clearwater?
The median resident of Clearwater is 31.1 years old; 28.5% are under 18 and 12.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.0%.
| Measure | Clearwater | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.1 ±2.3 | 37.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 28.5% ±6.0 pts | 27.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.2% ±2.7 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Male | 50.0% ±3.5 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 3.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.0% ±4.1 pts | 88.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.0% ±3.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.7% ±1.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.4% ±3.4 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.5% ±3.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 10.1% ±2.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.6% ±2.6 pts | 4.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.8% ±1.9 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.3% ±5.0 pts | 34.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.8% ±1.9 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.5% ±5.1 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
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 Clearwater earn?
Half of Clearwater's 784 households earn less than $91,346 a year (±$20,573), against $107,209 in Wright County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $82,534 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clearwater | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $91,346 ±$20,573 | $107,209 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $98,254 ±$9,770 | $126,718 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,281 ±$4,098 | $46,650 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.5% ±3.2 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.0% ±6.2 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.3% ±4.1 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.5% ±2.1 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.4% ±5.3 pts | 93.2% | – |
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 Clearwater?
Owners occupy 61.9% of Clearwater's occupied homes and renters 38.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $271,800 by its owner (±$26,210). The median renter pays $1,091 a month including utilities, and 17.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clearwater | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $271,800 ±$26,210 | $358,900 | +$60,121 |
| Median gross rent | $1,091 ±$97 | $1,288 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 17.2% ±10.1 pts | 32.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,835 ±$84 | $2,098 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.9% ±6.9 pts | 84.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.1% ±6.9 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Housing units | 784 ±80 | 57,416 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±7.2 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 55.2% ±6.2 pts | 78.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.9% ±1.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.9% ±4.1 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.5% ±5.2 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.4% ±3.8 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.3% ±1.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 Clearwater building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Clearwater in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 2.2 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 Clearwater work and get to work?
85.1% of Clearwater's workers drive alone and 6.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.7 minutes.
| Measure | Clearwater | Wright County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 82.4% ±4.2 pts | 72.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.1% ±1.6 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 85.1% ±4.6 pts | 74.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.6% ±2.4 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 4.0% ±3.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.3% ±2.9 pts | 15.0% | +4.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.7 min ±3.2 | 29.4 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 Clearwater?
No census tract lies mostly in Clearwater; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1003Wright County | 5,886 | $109,292 |
| Tract 112.02Stearns County | 3,265 | $96,520 |
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 Clearwater) · Census block assignment files
How does Clearwater compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Clearwater is the 7,316th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 254th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Clearwater ranks 268th of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 254th | 855 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 17th | 556 |
| Residents per square mile | 197th | 562 |
| Median household income | 268th | 558 |
| Per capita income | 351st | 562 |
| Median home value | 348th | 559 |
| Median gross rent | 235th | 465 |
| Poverty rate | 282nd | 461 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 347th | 559 |
| Median age | 546th | 561 |
| Owner-occupied share | 503rd | 561 |
| Work from home | 462nd | 525 |
| Travel time to work | 76th | 562 |
Clearwater's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Clearwater 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 Clearwater?
20 of the 57 figures for Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater.