City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Cold Spring, MN

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

4,201
Residents
$72,022
Median income
$242,000
Median home
$1,206
Median rent (state)

Cold Spring - the verdict

Cold Spring ranks in the 52nd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

52nd
percentile, household income
54th
percentile, home value
37th
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: Cold Spring, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 4,201 residents in Cold Spring, a small town within Minnesota. Median household income here is $72,022 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.4%. Home values in Cold Spring run a median of $242,000, and the median resident age is 40.9 years. About 29.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 69.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 14 residential building permits were authorized in Cold Spring (Construction Slowdown), down 39% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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 $1,206 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 87.6 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

4,201 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$72,022 /yr

Poverty 7.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Cold Spring compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 52% higher than other cities
Home value 54% pricier than other cities
Median rent 37% 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 Cold Spring 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 sits close to the middle of Minnesota's city distribution

Among the 784 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Cold Spring ranks #221 - the 72nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cold Spring only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#333 of 775
57th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#237 of 785
67th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#229 of 774
70th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#289 of 785
62nd percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#221 of 784
72nd 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.

52ndIncome percentile

52nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cold Spring's home value compares nationally

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

$242,000 46th percentile more affordable than 46% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Cold Spring $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 - Cold Spring, MN Cold Spring, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cold Spring, 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 Cold Spring, MN median $72,022/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%
Cold Spring, 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 Cold Spring, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.3%

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

Population
4,201
Median Income
$72,022
Median Home Value
$242,000
Median Age
40.9
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Labor force participation
69.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.1%

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,150 residents4,200 residents4,250 residents4,300 residents4,350 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,174 residents 4,329 residents ▲ +3.7%
Cold Spring's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
14
housing units authorized
Single-Family
14
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 23
2020 17
2021 16
2022 11
2023 10
2024 14

Permit volume decreased 39% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.7%
Carpool
2.4%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
6.7%
Other
0.8%

Based on 2,210 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 Cold Spring sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,206/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Le Sueur
4,204 people
Columbus
4,211 people
Cannon Falls
4,216 people
Park Rapids
4,226 people
Pipestone
4,165 people
Goodview
4,104 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cold Spring's 4,201 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Paxton, IL
4,201 people
Jacksonwald, PA
4,201 people
Poplar Grove, IL
4,202 people
Galeville, NY
4,200 people
Clarion, PA
4,202 people
West Bay Shore, NY
4,199 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cold Spring's $72,022 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fountain Inn, SC
$72,021 median income
Basin, WA
$72,024 median income
Clark Mills, NY
$72,019 median income
Union, WA
$72,019 median income
Tremonton, UT
$72,028 median income
Brookside, DE
$72,031 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cold Spring, 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 Cold Spring, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.8% White 94.0% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 4.1% 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 Cold Spring 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
Cold Spring (this city) 4,201 $72,022
Le Sueur 4,204 $71,563
Columbus 4,211 $117,917
Cannon Falls 4,216 $80,515
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cold Spring, MN?

What is the population of Cold Spring, MN? +

The population of Cold Spring, MN stands at 4,201 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cold Spring, MN? +

In Cold Spring, the typical household earns $72,022 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cold Spring? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cold Spring; 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 Cold Spring, MN? +

The median home value in Cold Spring is $242,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.