City · Minnesota
Motley, Minnesota
Motley, city, mostly in Morrison County (98.1% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Cass County, Minnesota. Motley had 688 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 680 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 608 (±138). GEOID 2744422.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
688
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 680 · ACS 2020-2024: 608 ±138
Median household income
$47,222
±$12,779 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$152,800
±$33,740 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$653
±$172 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Motley and what county is it in?
Motley is a city mostly in Morrison County (98.1% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Cass County, Minnesota. It covers 1.4 square miles of land, 490 residents per square mile in 2020.
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Morrison County | 667 | 98.1% |
| Cass County | 13 | 1.9% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Motley, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 688 people lived in Motley on July 1, 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 680 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 608 (±138).
| Measure | Motley | Morrison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 608 ±138 | 34,249 | no clear change |
| Households | 308 ±65 | 14,084 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.91 ±0.22 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 339 ±67 | 16,256 | no clear change |
Motley's population since 2000
From 585 in 2000 to 688 in 2025: up 17.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Motley 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 Motley?
The median resident of Motley is 56.1 years old; 15.3% are under 18 and 31.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.5%.
| Measure | Motley | Morrison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.1 ±6.7 | 42.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 15.3% ±6.2 pts | 23.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 31.1% ±7.3 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Male | 51.0% ±5.9 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.1% ±2.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.2% ±3.4 pts | 94.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±2.7 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.6 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.5% ±1.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.2% ±1.9 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5% ±3.0 pts | 8.7% | – |
| With a disability | 23.0% ±6.8 pts | 14.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1% ±5.2 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.2% ±4.8 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 9.8% ±5.1 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 0.0% ±4.9 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 80.5% ±8.9 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.0% ±5.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
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 Motley earn?
Half of Motley's 308 households earn less than $47,222 a year (±$12,779), against $69,446 in Morrison County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $39,998 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Motley | Morrison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $47,222 ±$12,779 | $69,446 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $53,482 ±$7,376 | $88,368 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,445 ±$3,057 | $37,269 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.7% ±4.6 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.0% ±11.8 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.7% ±5.8 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.0% ±9.0 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 76.9% ±9.3 pts | 86.9% | – |
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 Motley?
Owners occupy 63.6% of Motley's occupied homes and renters 36.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $152,800 by its owner (±$33,740). The median renter pays $653 a month including utilities, and 33.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Motley | Morrison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $152,800 ±$33,740 | $248,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $653 ±$172 | $788 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.3% ±17.6 pts | 28.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,011 ±$211 | $1,581 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.6% ±8.8 pts | 80.6% | +17.2 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.4% ±8.8 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Housing units | 339 ±67 | 16,256 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±10.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 17.6% ±15.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 53.7% ±10.0 pts | 82.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 15.3% ±7.2 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.1% ±2.7 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.4% ±4.8 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.8% ±6.8 pts | 19.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.7% ±8.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
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 Motley building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Motley in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 2.9 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 Motley work and get to work?
66.2% of Motley's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 20.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.1%.
| Measure | Motley | Morrison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.8% ±7.8 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.1% ±4.1 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 66.2% ±12.9 pts | 79.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.7% ±9.1 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.5% ±2.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 15.4% ±10.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.2% ±6.2 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.2 min ±3.7 | 28.6 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 Motley?
No census tract lies mostly in Motley; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7801Morrison County | 3,184 | $68,958 |
| Tract 9608.03Cass County | 2,227 | $64,853 |
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 Motley) · Census block assignment files
How does Motley compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Motley is the 11,908th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 426th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Motley 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.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 426th | 855 |
Motley's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Motley 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 Motley?
21 of the 57 figures for Motley 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 Motley 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 Motley.