City · Minnesota
Lakefield, Minnesota
Lakefield, city, in Jackson County, Minnesota. Lakefield had 1,697 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,735 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,507 (±108). GEOID 2734316.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,697
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,735 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,507 ±108
Median household income
$71,648
±$7,442 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$133,800
±$6,963 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$770
±$279 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Lakefield and what county is it in?
Lakefield is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota. It covers 1.3 square miles of land, 1,297 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lakefield, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,697 people lived in Lakefield on July 1, 2025, down 1.9% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 1,735 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,507 (±108).
| Measure | Lakefield | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,507 ±108 | 9,933 | −256 |
| Households | 675 ±60 | 4,387 | −103 |
| Average household size | 2.17 ±0.14 | 2.23 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 770 ±68 | 4,905 | no clear change |
Lakefield's population since 2000
From 1,721 in 2000 to 1,697 in 2025: down 1.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lakefield 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.
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 Lakefield?
The median resident of Lakefield is 43.3 years old; 20.7% are under 18 and 29.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.1%.
| Measure | Lakefield | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 ±4.0 | 44.5 | +6.9 |
| Under 18 years | 20.7% ±2.9 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 29.2% ±3.8 pts | 23.4% | – |
| Male | 46.2% ±3.1 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.1% ±3.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.8% ±3.7 pts | 89.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 1.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±1.8 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.2% ±2.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.8% ±2.6 pts | 7.6% | – |
| With a disability | 14.8% ±3.8 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 3.0% | −4.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.4% ±1.9 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.7% ±3.8 pts | 26.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.0% ±2.0 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.3% ±4.2 pts | 93.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3% ±1.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
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 Lakefield earn?
Half of Lakefield's 675 households earn less than $71,648 a year (±$7,442), against $75,743 in Jackson County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $63,927 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lakefield | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,648 ±$7,442 | $75,743 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $76,060 ±$8,117 | $95,928 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,891 ±$2,880 | $43,301 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.5% ±3.1 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.4% ±5.6 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.0% ±2.7 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.6% ±5.2 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.7% ±5.5 pts | 89.1% | – |
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 Lakefield?
Owners occupy 89.6% of Lakefield's occupied homes and renters 10.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $133,800 by its owner (±$6,963). The median renter pays $770 a month including utilities, and 30.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lakefield | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $133,800 ±$6,963 | $157,100 | +$19,345 |
| Median gross rent | $770 ±$279 | $787 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.6% ±16.3 pts | 31.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,133 ±$66 | $1,235 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 89.6% ±3.9 pts | 80.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 10.4% ±3.9 pts | 19.9% | – |
| Housing units | 770 ±68 | 4,905 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.5% ±3.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 13.6% ±19.2 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 90.1% ±3.6 pts | 86.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±2.9 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.5% ±2.3 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.0% ±5.5 pts | 29.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.2% ±1.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
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 Lakefield building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Lakefield in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 1.2 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.
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 Lakefield work and get to work?
74.1% of Lakefield's workers drive alone and 10.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.8 minutes.
| Measure | Lakefield | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.9% ±3.5 pts | 65.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 74.1% ±5.8 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.9% ±4.2 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.1% ±2.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±1.2 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.9% ±4.6 pts | 10.1% | +7.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.8 min ±2.3 | 18.4 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 Lakefield?
No census tract lies mostly in Lakefield; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4803Jackson County | 2,299 | $75,275 |
| Tract 4802Jackson County | 2,131 | $79,444 |
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 Lakefield) · Census block assignment files
How does Lakefield compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lakefield is the 8,299th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 286th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Lakefield ranks 407th of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 286th | 855 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 457th | 556 |
| Residents per square mile | 142nd | 562 |
| Median household income | 407th | 558 |
| Per capita income | 453rd | 562 |
| Median home value | 526th | 559 |
| Median gross rent | 397th | 465 |
| Poverty rate | 147th | 461 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 473rd | 559 |
| Median age | 213th | 561 |
| Owner-occupied share | 208th | 561 |
| Work from home | 316th | 525 |
| Travel time to work | 476th | 562 |
Lakefield's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Lakefield 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 Lakefield?
19 of the 57 figures for Lakefield 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 Lakefield 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 Lakefield.