City · Minnesota
Ruthton, Minnesota
Ruthton, city, in Pipestone County, Minnesota. Ruthton had 222 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 226 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 222 (±45). GEOID 2756482.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
222
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 226 · ACS 2020-2024: 222 ±45
Median household income
$38,864
±$4,762 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$56,800
±$6,299 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$625
±$105 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Ruthton and what county is it in?
Ruthton is a city in Pipestone County, Minnesota. It covers 0.6 square miles of land, 392 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Ruthton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 222 people lived in Ruthton on July 1, 2025, down 2.2% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 226 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 222 (±45).
| Measure | Ruthton | Pipestone County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 222 ±45 | 9,284 | no clear change |
| Households | 116 ±25 | 3,971 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.91 ±0.19 | 2.29 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 130 ±27 | 4,325 | no clear change |
Ruthton's population since 2000
From 284 in 2000 to 222 in 2025: down 21.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ruthton 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 Ruthton?
The median resident of Ruthton is 49.4 years old; 18.9% are under 18 and 23.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.4%.
| Measure | Ruthton | Pipestone County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 ±6.7 | 40.4 | +12.6 |
| Under 18 years | 18.9% ±6.7 pts | 26.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.9% ±9.9 pts | 20.6% | – |
| Male | 52.7% ±8.7 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.4% ±10.8 pts | 8.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.2% ±10.9 pts | 84.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±9.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±9.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±9.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±9.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±2.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±2.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.7% ±4.4 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.3% ±5.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.9% ±4.4 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 20.3% ±6.7 pts | 14.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8% ±6.7 pts | 5.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.8% ±9.4 pts | 92.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 9.7% ±5.1 pts | 21.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.8% ±1.8 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.2% ±5.7 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.2% ±5.3 pts | 1.9% | – |
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 Ruthton earn?
Half of Ruthton's 116 households earn less than $38,864 a year (±$4,762), against $69,628 in Pipestone County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 the median was $54,766 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $15,902 after inflation. 21.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ruthton | Pipestone County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $38,864 ±$4,762 | $69,628 | −$15,902 |
| Mean household income | $51,583 ±$6,733 | $89,424 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,451 ±$3,091 | $37,956 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 21.1% ±8.7 pts | 10.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 33.3% ±20.2 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.5% ±9.2 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.8% ±4.2 pts | 94.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.8% ±7.0 pts | 87.9% | – |
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 Ruthton?
Owners occupy 83.6% of Ruthton's occupied homes and renters 16.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $56,800 by its owner (±$6,299). The median renter pays $625 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Ruthton | Pipestone County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $56,800 ±$6,299 | $140,200 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $625 ±$105 | $754 | −$324 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 6.3% ±15.8 pts | 31.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,063 ±$292 | $1,165 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.6% ±8.9 pts | 80.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.4% ±8.9 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Housing units | 130 ±27 | 4,325 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±19.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±56.6 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 90.0% ±8.0 pts | 85.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.4% ±4.1 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±15.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±15.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 65.4% ±9.1 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.8% ±5.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
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 Ruthton building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Ruthton in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 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 Ruthton work and get to work?
73.9% of Ruthton's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.4 minutes.
| Measure | Ruthton | Pipestone County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.7% ±9.1 pts | 66.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% ±6.7 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 73.9% ±10.7 pts | 77.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.4% ±8.3 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±18.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 2.7% ±2.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.0% ±8.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.4 min ±3.7 | 16.5 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 Ruthton?
No census tract lies mostly in Ruthton; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4601Pipestone County | 1,455 | $68,309 |
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 Ruthton) · Census block assignment files
How does Ruthton compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ruthton is the 16,166th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 634th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Ruthton 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 | 634th | 855 |
Ruthton's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Ruthton 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 Ruthton?
23 of the 57 figures for Ruthton 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 Ruthton 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 Ruthton.