City · Minnesota

Lake Wilson, Minnesota

Lake Wilson, city, in Murray County, Minnesota. Lake Wilson had 246 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 254 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 237 (±46). GEOID 2735198.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

246

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 254 · ACS 2020-2024: 237 ±46

Median household income

$65,500

±$18,345 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$98,600

±$14,616 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

not published


Minnesota: $1,280

Where is Lake Wilson and what county is it in?

Lake Wilson is a city in Murray County, Minnesota. It covers 0.4 square miles of land, 617 residents per square mile in 2020.

Lake Wilson (marked with a dot) in Murray County, Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Lake Wilson, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 246 people lived in Lake Wilson on July 1, 2025, down 5.0% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 254 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 237 (±46).

  • July 2020→2021 −2 (257)
  • 2021→2022 −4 (253)
  • 2022→2023 −1 (252)
  • 2023→2024 −5 (247)
  • 2024→2025 −1 (246)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Lake WilsonMurray CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Total population 237 ±46 8,097 5,739,445 no clear change
Households 118 ±24 3,609 2,307,955 no clear change
Average household size 2.01 ±0.23 2.21 2.43 +0.30
Housing units 140 ±27 4,401 2,545,030 no clear change

Lake Wilson's population since 2000

From 270 in 2000 to 246 in 2025: down 8.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lake Wilson 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.

  • 2000 Census 270
  • 2005 (estimate) 262
  • 2010 Census 251
  • 2015 (estimate) 234
  • 2020 Census 254
  • 2025 (estimate) 246

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 Lake Wilson?

The median resident of Lake Wilson is 52.9 years old; 13.9% are under 18 and 28.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.3%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Lake WilsonMurray CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median age 52.9 ±12.5 46.5 38.8 no clear change
Under 18 years 13.9% ±6.5 pts 21.7% 22.9% –
65 years and over 28.7% ±9.7 pts 26.6% 17.3% –
Male 49.8% ±7.7 pts 50.1% 50.1% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.3% ±7.9 pts 5.2% 6.4% –
White alone, not Hispanic 84.8% ±9.8 pts 89.1% 75.9% −13.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.1 pts 0.7% 6.9% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.1 pts 0.9% 5.1% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.1 pts 0.1% 0.7% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.1 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 5.9% ±7.6 pts 3.0% 4.5% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.1 pts 1.0% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 2.1% ±2.3 pts 3.2% 8.7% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 4.8% ±3.4 pts 6.7% 12.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 13.2% ±5.5 pts 7.4% 5.9% –
With a disability 21.1% ±7.0 pts 13.4% 11.6% –
No health insurance coverage 2.5% ±3.0 pts 5.0% 4.7% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 95.3% ±5.0 pts 91.9% 93.9% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 18.3% ±7.7 pts 23.5% 39.4% –
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 4.7% ±4.0 pts 5.7% 13.8% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 96.2% ±2.8 pts 92.1% 87.8% –
Moved from another state in the past year 2.1% ±2.1 pts 1.1% 1.8% –

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 Lake Wilson earn?

Half of Lake Wilson's 118 households earn less than $65,500 a year (±$18,345), against $74,033 in Murray County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $61,535 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Lake WilsonMurray CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $65,500 ±$18,345 $74,033 $89,062 no clear change
Mean household income $68,599 ±$12,255 $90,836 $118,304 –
Per capita income $34,011 ±$5,175 $40,935 $48,237 −$10,401
People below the poverty line 17.3% ±9.3 pts 9.3% 9.3% +10.9 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line 6.1% ±8.2 pts 10.1% 10.3% –
Households receiving SNAP 5.9% ±4.6 pts 6.2% 7.9% –
Households with a computer 88.1% ±10.8 pts 93.2% 95.8% –
Households with a broadband subscription 83.9% ±11.3 pts 85.1% 91.6% –

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 Lake Wilson?

Owners occupy 93.2% of Lake Wilson's occupied homes and renters 6.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $98,600 by its owner (±$14,616).

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Lake WilsonMurray CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $98,600 ±$14,616 $185,400 $329,300 +$28,081
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 0.0% ±100.0 pts 30.6% 38.4% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,069 ±$202 $1,384 $1,947 –
Owner-occupied homes 93.2% ±4.7 pts 82.2% 72.2% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 6.8% ±4.7 pts 17.8% 27.8% –
Housing units 140 ±27 4,401 2,545,030 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.9% ±1.8 pts 0.5% 0.6% –
Rental vacancy rate 60.0% ±29.8 pts 10.1% 5.3% –
Single-family detached homes 92.9% ±5.5 pts 90.0% 66.0% –
Mobile homes 5.7% ±5.1 pts 3.0% 2.9% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±14.8 pts 0.6% 1.9% –
Built 2010 to 2019 1.4% ±2.0 pts 3.4% 8.5% –
Built 1939 or earlier 38.6% ±9.6 pts 25.8% 15.6% –
Households with no vehicle 0.0% ±17.3 pts 4.5% 6.7% –

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 Lake Wilson building?

Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Lake Wilson in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.

  • 2019 0 units
  • 2020 0 units
  • 2021 0 units
  • 2022 0 units
  • 2023 0 units
  • 2024 1 units
  • 2025 0 units

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 Lake Wilson work and get to work?

78.0% of Lake Wilson's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 18.4 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Lake WilsonMurray CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 52.7% ±9.4 pts 62.5% 68.1% –
Unemployment rate 0.0% ±18.5 pts 2.7% 4.1% –
Drove alone to work 78.0% ±11.5 pts 74.3% 68.9% –
Carpooled 6.4% ±6.1 pts 9.9% 7.5% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±18.5 pts 0.2% 1.8% –
Walked 4.6% ±8.4 pts 4.1% 2.5% –
Worked from home 7.3% ±4.9 pts 9.9% 17.6% –
Mean travel time to work 18.4 min ±4.2 21.0 min 22.7 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 Lake Wilson?

No census tract lies mostly in Lake Wilson; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Lake Wilson, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Lake Wilson
Tract 9002Murray County3,158 $75,769 $167,2006%

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 Lake Wilson) · Census block assignment files

How does Lake Wilson compare with other places in Minnesota?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lake Wilson is the 15,838th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 621st-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.

Lake Wilson is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.

Lake Wilson's rank in Minnesota (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate621st855

Lake Wilson's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)

Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Lake Wilson 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 Lake Wilson?

26 of the 56 figures for Lake Wilson 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 Lake Wilson 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 Lake Wilson.