City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Ham Lake, MN

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

16,575
Residents
$116,845
Median income
$430,100
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

Ham Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Ham Lake places in the 86th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

86th
percentile, household income
80th
percentile, home value
68th
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: Ham Lake, MN

Minnesota's Ham Lake is a small town, with 16,575 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $116,845 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.3%. Ham Lake's housing stock carries a median value of $430,100, and the median resident age is 42.8 years. About 35.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 38 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 42% from five years earlier.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Minnesota scores 98.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,709 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 88.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

16,575 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$116,845 /yr

Poverty 2.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Ham Lake compare to other US cities?

Here's how Ham Lake stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 86% higher than other cities
Home value 80% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% 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 Ham Lake 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 is Ham Lake's strongest outlier among Minnesota cities

Among the 774 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Ham Lake ranks #49 - the 94th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Ham Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#73 of 775
91st percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 785
77th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#49 of 774
94th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#586 of 785
24th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#147 of 784
81st 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.

86thIncome percentile

86th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ham Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$430,100 20th percentile more affordable than 20% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Ham 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 - Ham Lake, MN Ham Lake, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ham 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 Ham Lake, MN median $116,845/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%
Ham 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 Ham Lake, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.7%

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

Population
16,575
Median Income
$116,845
Median Home Value
$430,100
Median Age
42.8
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Labor force participation
62.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.9%

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 →
16,400 residents16,600 residents16,800 residents17,000 residents17,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 16,506 residents 17,104 residents ▲ +3.6%
Ham 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)
38
housing units authorized
Single-Family
38
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 65
2020 64
2021 67
2022 64
2023 37
2024 38

Permit volume decreased 42% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.2%
Carpool
4.6%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
0.1%
Work from Home
13.8%
Other
0.8%

Based on 8,239 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 Ham Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Red Wing
16,660 people
Buffalo
16,388 people
Hibbing
16,100 people
Hugo
16,076 people
Bemidji
15,490 people
Anoka
17,941 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ham Lake's 16,575 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Palmetto Estates, FL
16,587 people
Warsaw, IN
16,592 people
La Vista, NE
16,594 people
Menomonie, WI
16,548 people
Clearlake, CA
16,604 people
Bostonia, CA
16,545 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ham Lake's $116,845 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ken Caryl, CO
$116,838 median income
Memphis, IN
$116,852 median income
Southern Shores, NC
$116,859 median income
Odessa, FL
$116,870 median income
Clancy, MT
$116,800 median income
Lakewood, CA
$116,794 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ham 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 Ham Lake, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.2% White 91.6% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 3.7% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 3.5% 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 Ham 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
Ham Lake (this city) 16,575 $116,845
Red Wing 16,660 $65,259
Buffalo 16,388 $88,306
Hibbing 16,100 $55,463
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ham Lake, MN?

What is the population of Ham Lake, MN? +

Ham Lake, MN counts 16,575 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Ham Lake, the typical household earns $116,845 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ham Lake? +

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

A typical home in Ham Lake is worth $430,100, 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.