City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Pipestone, MN

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

4,165
Residents
$61,442
Median income
$102,000
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Pipestone - the verdict

Pipestone ranks in the 37th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

37th
percentile, household income
10th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Pipestone, MN

4,165 people live in Pipestone, Minnesota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Pipestone brings in $61,442 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 17.4%. Typical homes in Pipestone are valued around $102,000, and the median resident age is 39.0 years. About 24.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 3 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). NOAA puts Pipestone's yearly average temperature at 44.4°F with 28.6 inches of precipitation per year and 39.6 inches of snowfall.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $973 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 14.7 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

4,165 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$61,442 /yr

Poverty 17.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Pipestone compare to other US cities?

Here's how Pipestone stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 10% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Pipestone's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Minnesota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

37thIncome percentile

37th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Pipestone's home value compares nationally

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

$102,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 90% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Pipestone $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 - Pipestone, MN Pipestone, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Pipestone, 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 Pipestone, MN median $61,442/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%
Pipestone, 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 Pipestone, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.8%

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

Population
4,165
Median Income
$61,442
Median Home Value
$102,000
Median Age
39.0
Poverty Rate
17.4%
Labor force participation
58.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.1%

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.4°F
Annual Precipitation
28.6"
Annual Snowfall
39.6"

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,050 residents4,100 residents4,150 residents4,200 residents4,250 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,203 residents 4,100 residents ▼ -2.5%
Pipestone's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 2
2024 3

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.7%
Carpool
7.4%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
3.4%
Work from Home
5.6%

Based on 1,846 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 Pipestone sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
14.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Cold Spring
4,201 people
Le Sueur
4,204 people
Columbus
4,211 people
Cannon Falls
4,216 people
Goodview
4,104 people
Park Rapids
4,226 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Pipestone's 4,165 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Northfield, VT
4,165 people
Jefferson, IA
4,164 people
Shackle Island, TN
4,164 people
Jourdanton, TX
4,166 people
Shrewsbury, NJ
4,162 people
Wingate, NC
4,169 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Pipestone's $61,442 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Point Baker, FL
$61,442 median income
Edgar, WI
$61,442 median income
Pittman, FL
$61,438 median income
Harper Woods, MI
$61,446 median income
Mill Run, PA
$61,447 median income
New London, WI
$61,447 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Pipestone, 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 Pipestone, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.5% 6.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.3% White 84.5% Black or African American 4.0% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.3% Two or more races 6.8% 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 Pipestone 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
Pipestone (this city) 4,165 $61,442
Cold Spring 4,201 $72,022
Le Sueur 4,204 $71,563
Columbus 4,211 $117,917
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Pipestone, MN?

What is the population of Pipestone, MN? +

The population of Pipestone, MN stands at 4,165 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Pipestone, MN? +

Pipestone households earn a median of $61,442 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Pipestone? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Pipestone; 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.

What is the median home value in Pipestone, MN? +

The median home value in Pipestone is $102,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Pipestone? +

The average annual temperature in Pipestone runs 44.4°F, 28.6 inches of precipitation, and 39.6 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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 Editorial

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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.