City · Minnesota
Lester Prairie, Minnesota
Lester Prairie, city, in McLeod County, Minnesota. Lester Prairie had 1,881 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,894 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,898 (±233). GEOID 2736728.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,881
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,894 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,898 ±233
Median household income
$96,544
±$12,848 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$237,400
±$12,480 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$688
±$74 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Lester Prairie and what county is it in?
Lester Prairie is a city in McLeod County, Minnesota. It covers 1.0 square miles of land, 1,888 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lester Prairie is in the Hutchinson, MN micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lester Prairie, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,881 people lived in Lester Prairie on July 1, 2025, down 0.9% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 1,894 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,898 (±233).
| Measure | Lester Prairie | McLeod County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,898 ±233 | 36,798 | no clear change |
| Households | 685 ±73 | 15,215 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.77 ±0.22 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 713 ±74 | 15,972 | no clear change |
Lester Prairie's population since 2000
From 1,377 in 2000 to 1,881 in 2025: up 36.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lester Prairie 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 Lester Prairie?
The median resident of Lester Prairie is 32.8 years old; 27.4% are under 18 and 11.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 20.1%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lester Prairie | McLeod County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 ±3.0 | 41.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.4% ±4.4 pts | 21.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.7% ±2.7 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Male | 50.4% ±3.3 pts | 50.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20.1% ±7.4 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 73.3% ±8.1 pts | 88.2% | −11.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±3.4 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.9% ±3.2 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.9% ±7.6 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.6% ±2.8 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 9.6% ±2.7 pts | 12.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.1% ±1.6 pts | 5.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.4% ±3.8 pts | 93.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.0% ±3.2 pts | 20.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.6% ±3.4 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±0.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
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 Lester Prairie earn?
Half of Lester Prairie's 685 households earn less than $96,544 a year (±$12,848), against $80,084 in McLeod County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 the median was $73,458 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $23,086 after inflation. 3.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lester Prairie | McLeod County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $96,544 ±$12,848 | $80,084 | +$23,086 |
| Mean household income | $105,858 ±$10,331 | $99,958 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,836 ±$3,941 | $42,495 | +$6,199 |
| People below the poverty line | 3.0% ±1.6 pts | 8.7% | −10.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.1% ±2.5 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.9% ±4.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.5% ±3.7 pts | 93.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.5% ±4.7 pts | 88.5% | – |
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 Lester Prairie?
Owners occupy 85.8% of Lester Prairie's occupied homes and renters 14.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $237,400 by its owner (±$12,480). The median renter pays $688 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Lester Prairie | McLeod County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $237,400 ±$12,480 | $246,100 | +$53,042 |
| Median gross rent | $688 ±$74 | $941 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 19.6% ±16.5 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,709 ±$69 | $1,650 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.8% ±5.0 pts | 77.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 14.2% ±5.0 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Housing units | 713 ±74 | 15,972 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 17.1% ±16.5 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.0% ±5.1 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.5% ±2.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 19.5% ±4.6 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 3.4% | – |
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 Lester Prairie building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Lester Prairie in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.5 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 Lester Prairie work and get to work?
74.9% of Lester Prairie's workers drive alone and 8.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 0.8%.
| Measure | Lester Prairie | McLeod County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 76.3% ±4.7 pts | 67.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 74.9% ±7.0 pts | 78.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.5% ±5.5 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 6.6% ±3.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.6% ±3.7 pts | 8.8% | +5.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.0 min ±3.7 | 23.0 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 Lester Prairie?
No census tract lies mostly in Lester Prairie; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9506McLeod County | 4,702 | $95,605 |
| Tract 9501McLeod County | 5,113 | $79,708 |
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 Lester Prairie) · Census block assignment files
How does Lester Prairie compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lester Prairie is the 7,902nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 276th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Lester Prairie ranks 232nd 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 | 276th | 855 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 412th | 556 |
| Residents per square mile | 74th | 562 |
| Median household income | 232nd | 558 |
| Per capita income | 363rd | 562 |
| Median home value | 398th | 559 |
| Median gross rent | 434th | 465 |
| Poverty rate | 427th | 461 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 545th | 559 |
| Median age | 529th | 561 |
| Owner-occupied share | 268th | 561 |
| Work from home | 400th | 525 |
| Travel time to work | 92nd | 562 |
Lester Prairie's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Lester Prairie 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 Lester Prairie?
17 of the 57 figures for Lester Prairie 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 Lester Prairie 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 Lester Prairie.