City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Duluth, MN

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

86,863
Residents
$66,263
Median income
$225,700
Median home
$1,232
Median rent (state)

Duluth - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Duluth places in the 45th percentile for household income and the 14th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

45th
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
39th
percentile, median rent
14th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Duluth, MN

Minnesota's Duluth is a small city, with 86,863 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $66,263 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.5%. Home values in Duluth run a median of $225,700, and the median resident age is 35.2 years. Educational attainment runs 42.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 62.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 402 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 9% from five years earlier. Duluth's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3173.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Duluth's yearly average temperature at 40.6°F with 31.2 inches of precipitation per year and 90.2 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 $1,232 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 70.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

86,863 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$66,263 /yr

Poverty 7.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Duluth compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 45% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 39% pricier than other cities
Safety 14% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Minnesota and the picture shifts: Duluth ranks #216 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Duluth's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Minnesota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

45thIncome percentile
14thSafety percentile

45th percentile nationally for median household income · 14th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Duluth's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Duluth's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 38 Avg. percentile National median
Duluth's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Duluth's home value compares nationally

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

$225,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% 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. Duluth $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 - Duluth, MN Duluth, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Duluth, 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 Duluth, MN median $66,263/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%
Duluth, 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 Duluth, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 42.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.3%

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

Population
86,863
Median Income
$66,263
Median Home Value
$225,700
Median Age
35.2
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Labor force participation
62.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
42.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3173.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
219.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2954.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
40.6°F
Annual Precipitation
31.2"
Annual Snowfall
90.2"

Schools

Total Schools
31
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
86,500 residents87,000 residents87,500 residents88,000 residents88,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 86,878 residents 88,330 residents ▲ +1.7%
Duluth's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
402
housing units authorized
Single-Family
60
detached homes
Multifamily
342
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 440
2020 195
2021 141
2022 254
2023 326
2024 402

Permit volume decreased 9% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.7%
Carpool
7.4%
Public Transit
3.0%
Walk
4.5%
Work from Home
11.7%
Other
1.7%

Based on 45,071 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 Duluth sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,232/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
70.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Bloomington
88,838 people
Brooklyn Park
84,349 people
Plymouth
79,526 people
Woodbury
76,945 people
Lakeville
72,480 people
Blaine
71,261 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Duluth's 86,863 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ogden, UT
86,973 people
Deerfield Beach, FL
86,742 people
Citrus Heights, CA
87,036 people
Town 'n' Country, FL
86,544 people
Manteca, CA
86,521 people
Troy, MI
87,307 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Duluth's $66,263 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lake Havasu City, AZ
$66,264 median income
Camp Pendleton South, CA
$66,265 median income
Ottawa, OH
$66,268 median income
Banner Hill, TN
$66,270 median income
Jasper, AL
$66,250 median income
Port Alsworth, AK
$66,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Duluth, 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 Duluth, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% White 87.9% Black or African American 2.6% Asian 1.8% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 5.4% 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 Duluth 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
Duluth (this city) 86,863 $66,263
Bloomington 88,838 $90,677
Brooklyn Park 84,349 $85,964
Plymouth 79,526 $133,865
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Duluth, MN?

What is the population of Duluth, MN? +

Duluth, MN counts 86,863 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Duluth, the typical household earns $66,263 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Duluth? +

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

Is Duluth, MN safe? +

Duluth has a total crime rate of 3173.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Homes in Duluth carry a median value of $225,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Duluth? +

The average annual temperature in Duluth runs 40.6°F, 31.2 inches of precipitation, and 90.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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

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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.