City · Minnesota

New Ulm, Minnesota

New Ulm, city, in Brown County, Minnesota. New Ulm had 13,863 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 14,120 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 14,056 (±24). GEOID 2746042.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

13,863

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 14,120 · ACS 2020-2024: 14,056 ±24

Median household income

$64,449

±$4,330 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$204,200

±$11,297 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$962

±$71 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

Where is New Ulm and what county is it in?

New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota. It covers 10.2 square miles of land, 1,389 residents per square mile in 2020.

New Ulm is in the New Ulm, MN micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

New Ulm (marked with a dot) in Brown 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 New Ulm, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 13,863 people lived in New Ulm on July 1, 2025, down 1.9% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 14,120 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 14,056 (±24).

  • July 2020→2021 +3 (14,132)
  • 2021→2022 −126 (14,006)
  • 2022→2023 −88 (13,918)
  • 2023→2024 −30 (13,888)
  • 2024→2025 −25 (13,863)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure New UlmBrown CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Total population 14,056 ±24 25,800 5,739,445 +814
Households 6,081 ±180 11,027 2,307,955 +365
Average household size 2.15 ±0.06 2.23 2.43 no clear change
Housing units 6,377 ±187 11,827 2,545,030 +248

New Ulm's population since 2000

From 13,594 in 2000 to 13,863 in 2025: up 2.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for New Ulm 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 13,594
  • 2005 (estimate) 13,519
  • 2010 Census 13,522
  • 2015 (estimate) 13,290
  • 2020 Census 14,120
  • 2025 (estimate) 13,863

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 New Ulm?

The median resident of New Ulm is 39.3 years old; 21.4% are under 18 and 20.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.3%. 2.4% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure New UlmBrown CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median age 39.3 ±2.3 42.0 38.8 no clear change
Under 18 years 21.4% ±1.5 pts 21.9% 22.9% –
65 years and over 20.4% ±1.4 pts 22.2% 17.3% –
Male 49.2% ±1.0 pts 50.2% 50.1% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.3% ±1.3 pts 5.1% 6.4% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 93.6% ±1.6 pts 91.4% 75.9% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.8% ±0.5 pts 0.9% 6.9% no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±0.2 pts 0.5% 5.1% −0.4 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.2% ±0.2 pts 0.2% 0.7% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.2 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 0.9% ±0.4 pts 1.4% 4.5% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.4% ±0.5 pts 0.5% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 2.4% ±0.8 pts 2.9% 8.7% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 4.3% ±1.4 pts 5.0% 12.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 4.5% ±1.0 pts 5.6% 5.9% –
With a disability 12.0% ±1.6 pts 11.3% 11.6% –
No health insurance coverage 4.7% ±1.8 pts 4.6% 4.7% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 91.9% ±1.5 pts 92.8% 93.9% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 27.9% ±2.7 pts 24.5% 39.4% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 10.8% ±1.9 pts 8.0% 13.8% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 90.5% ±2.0 pts 91.8% 87.8% –
Moved from another state in the past year 2.0% ±0.6 pts 1.3% 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 New Ulm earn?

Half of New Ulm's 6,081 households earn less than $64,449 a year (±$4,330), against $69,378 in Brown County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 the median was $75,807 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $11,358 after inflation. 9.2% 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 New UlmBrown CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $64,449 ±$4,330 $69,378 $89,062 −$11,358
Mean household income $82,367 ±$4,117 $86,644 $118,304 –
Per capita income $35,978 ±$1,545 $37,653 $48,237 no clear change
People below the poverty line 9.2% ±1.5 pts 8.5% 9.3% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 5.8% ±3.3 pts 6.2% 10.3% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 7.0% ±1.9 pts 6.5% 7.9% –
Households with a computer 91.2% ±2.2 pts 91.8% 95.8% –
Households with a broadband subscription 86.1% ±3.3 pts 86.8% 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 New Ulm?

Owners occupy 75.1% of New Ulm's occupied homes and renters 24.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $204,200 by its owner (±$11,297). The median renter pays $962 a month including utilities, and 30.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure New UlmBrown CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $204,200 ±$11,297 $191,200 $329,300 +$30,303
Median gross rent $962 ±$71 $890 $1,280 +$171
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 30.2% ±7.7 pts 32.5% 38.4% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,398 ±$77 $1,392 $1,947 –
Owner-occupied homes 75.1% ±2.8 pts 78.9% 72.2% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 24.9% ±2.8 pts 21.1% 27.8% –
Housing units 6,377 ±187 11,827 2,545,030 +248
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.4% ±0.6 pts 0.8% 0.6% –
Rental vacancy rate 1.3% ±2.1 pts 2.2% 5.3% –
Single-family detached homes 74.3% ±3.0 pts 80.5% 66.0% –
Mobile homes 4.8% ±1.7 pts 3.1% 2.9% –
Built 2020 or later 0.6% ±0.5 pts 0.5% 1.9% –
Built 2010 to 2019 5.0% ±1.7 pts 5.3% 8.5% –
Built 1939 or earlier 27.9% ±2.8 pts 30.1% 15.6% –
Households with no vehicle 4.5% ±1.2 pts 4.9% 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 New Ulm building?

Builders took permits for 20 new housing units in New Ulm in 2025 (14 in single-family houses), 1.4 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.

  • 2019 32 units
  • 2020 27 units
  • 2021 16 units
  • 2022 15 units
  • 2023 10 units
  • 2024 20 units
  • 2025 20 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 New Ulm work and get to work?

79.6% of New Ulm's workers drive alone and 5.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 12.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure New UlmBrown CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 64.3% ±2.2 pts 65.6% 68.1% –
Unemployment rate 3.0% ±1.8 pts 2.9% 4.1% no clear change
Drove alone to work 79.6% ±2.9 pts 79.8% 68.9% –
Carpooled 7.7% ±2.2 pts 6.8% 7.5% –
Public transportation 0.7% ±0.5 pts 0.4% 1.8% –
Walked 5.6% ±1.4 pts 4.8% 2.5% –
Worked from home 5.6% ±1.6 pts 7.3% 17.6% no clear change
Mean travel time to work 12.1 min ±1.0 14.6 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 New Ulm?

4 census tracts lie mostly in New Ulm, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $51,154 (Tract 9601.02) to $84,403 (Tract 9602).

Census tracts in New Ulm, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in New Ulm
Tract 9602Brown County4,707 $84,403 $212,500100%
Tract 9603Brown County3,341 $59,545 $186,400100%
Tract 9601.01Brown County1,830 $54,681 $155,100100%
Tract 9604Brown County4,762 $71,860 $272,00022%
Tract 9601.02Brown County1,178 $51,154 $166,70090%
Tract 9607Brown County3,268 $81,250 $252,7002%

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 New Ulm) · Census block assignment files

How does New Ulm compare with other places in Minnesota?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, New Ulm is the 2,545th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 85th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.

New Ulm ranks 462nd of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

New Ulm'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 estimate85th855
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)458th556
Residents per square mile129th562
Median household income462nd558
Per capita income429th562
Median home value440th559
Median gross rent284th465
Poverty rate178th461
Bachelor's degree or higher301st559
Median age368th561
Owner-occupied share367th561
Work from home489th525
Travel time to work549th562

New Ulm's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)

Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare New Ulm 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 New Ulm?

7 of the 57 figures for New Ulm 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 New Ulm 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 New Ulm.