City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Elgin, MN

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

1,147
Residents
$87,000
Median income
$218,200
Median home
$1,001
Median rent (state)

Elgin - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Elgin places in the 68th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

68th
percentile, household income
48th
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: Elgin, MN

Elgin is a small town in Minnesota, home to 1,147 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Elgin brings in $87,000 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.4%. Typical homes in Elgin are valued around $218,200, and the median resident age is 31.8 years. About 23.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 77.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 4 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 100% from five years earlier.

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). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,001 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Minnesota run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 45.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

1,147 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$87,000 /yr

Poverty 6.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Elgin compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 68% higher than other cities
Home value 48% 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 Elgin against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Minnesota's city distribution

Among the 774 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Elgin ranks #281 - the 64th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Elgin only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#206 of 775
73rd percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#467 of 785
39th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#281 of 774
64th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#339 of 785
57th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#317 of 784
59th 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.

68thIncome percentile

68th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Elgin's home value compares nationally

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

$218,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 52% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Elgin $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 - Elgin, MN Elgin, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elgin, 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 Elgin, MN median $87,000/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%
Elgin, 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 Elgin, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 77.8%

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

Population
1,147
Median Income
$87,000
Median Home Value
$218,200
Median Age
31.8
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Labor force participation
77.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.5%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,100 residents1,120 residents1,140 residents1,160 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,114 residents 1,137 residents ▲ +2.1%
Elgin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 10
2021 5
2022 1
2023 1
2024 4

Permit volume increased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.3%
Carpool
5.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
9.5%

Based on 683 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 Elgin sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,001/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
45.5 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Dellwood
1,145 people
Shafer
1,151 people
New London
1,156 people
Elbow Lake
1,158 people
Fairfax
1,134 people
East Gull Lake
1,173 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elgin's 1,147 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hotchkiss, CO
1,147 people
New Sharon, IA
1,147 people
Americus, KS
1,147 people
Coleman, MI
1,147 people
Columbus, NM
1,147 people
Ruby, NY
1,147 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elgin's $87,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Glenwood Springs, CO
$87,000 median income
Woodbranch, TX
$87,000 median income
Quincy, CA
$87,008 median income
Dousman, WI
$87,011 median income
Twain Harte, CA
$87,018 median income
Plain City, OH
$87,018 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elgin, 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 Elgin, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.8% White 93.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 5.1% 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 Elgin 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
Elgin (this city) 1,147 $87,000
Dellwood 1,145 $208,125
Shafer 1,151 $96,042
New London 1,156 $66,830
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elgin, MN?

What is the population of Elgin, MN? +

1,147 people live in Elgin, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Elgin is $87,000 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elgin? +

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

Elgin's median home value sits at $218,200, 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.