City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Le Center, MN

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

2,514
Residents
$66,864
Median income
$189,800
Median home
$1,078
Median rent (state)

Le Center - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Le Center places in the 46th percentile for household income and the 97th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

46th
percentile, household income
40th
percentile, home value
27th
percentile, median rent
97th
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: Le Center, MN

2,514 people live in Le Center, Minnesota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Le Center brings in $66,864 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.3%. Typical homes in Le Center are valued around $189,800, and the median resident age is 36.3 years. 13.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 66.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 100% from five years earlier. Le Center reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 119.0 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,078 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Le Center workers runs 18.9 minutes, with 80.0% driving alone and 3.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 22.8 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

2,514 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$66,864 /yr

Poverty 2.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Le Center compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 46% higher than other cities
Home value 40% pricier than other cities
Median rent 27% pricier than other cities
Safety 97% 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: Le Center ranks #20 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Le Center against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Le Center toward the bottom of Minnesota's cities

Among the 784 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Le Center ranks #600 - the 23rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Le Center only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#404 of 775
48th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#366 of 785
52nd percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#338 of 774
56th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#586 of 785
24th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#600 of 784
23rd 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.

46thIncome percentile
97thSafety percentile

46th percentile nationally for median household income · 97th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Le Center's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Le Center'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 70 Avg. percentile National median
Le Center'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 Le Center's home value compares nationally

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

$189,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 60% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Le Center $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 - Le Center, MN Le Center, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Le Center, 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 Le Center, MN median $66,864/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%
Le Center, 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 Le Center, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.9%

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

Population
2,514
Median Income
$66,864
Median Home Value
$189,800
Median Age
36.3
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Labor force participation
66.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
119.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
119.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
0.0
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.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,500 residents2,510 residents2,520 residents2,530 residents2,540 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,506 residents 2,524 residents ▲ +0.7%
Le Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

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

Permit volume increased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.9 minutes
Drive Alone
80.0%
Carpool
10.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.5%
Work from Home
3.5%

Based on 1,358 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 Le Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,078/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
22.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Rockville
2,521 people
Mayer
2,501 people
Lake Crystal
2,530 people
Sandstone
2,538 people
Paynesville
2,476 people
Wabasha
2,569 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Le Center's 2,514 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Laurel Lake, NJ
2,514 people
Silver Lake, OH
2,514 people
North Prairie, WI
2,514 people
Pelican Marsh, FL
2,513 people
Buckeye Lake, OH
2,513 people
Fairfield University, CT
2,516 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Le Center's $66,864 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Garden City, ID
$66,859 median income
Kendall West, FL
$66,858 median income
Monmouth, OR
$66,858 median income
Hodges, AL
$66,875 median income
New Site, AL
$66,875 median income
Aniak, AK
$66,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Le Center, 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 Le Center, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.7% 8.8% 8.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 28.1% White 81.7% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.8% Two or more races 8.8% 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 Le Center 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
Le Center (this city) 2,514 $66,864
Rockville 2,521 $101,447
Mayer 2,501 $120,551
Lake Crystal 2,530 $77,979
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Le Center, MN?

What is the population of Le Center, MN? +

Le Center, MN counts 2,514 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Le Center, MN? +

The median household income in Le Center is $66,864 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Le Center? +

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

Le Center has a total crime rate of 119.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Le Center, MN? +

Le Center's median home value sits at $189,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.