City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Shafer, MN

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

1,151
Residents
$96,042
Median income
$225,700
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

Shafer - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Shafer places in the 75th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

75th
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
68th
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: Shafer, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,151 residents in Shafer, a small town within Minnesota. Shafer households earn a median of $96,042 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.7%. Home values in Shafer run a median of $225,700, and the median resident age is 35.5 years. About 16.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 75.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,709 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Minnesota run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 44.5 out of 100 (Low).

Population

1,151 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$96,042 /yr

Poverty 2.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Shafer compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 75% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% 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 Shafer'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.

75thIncome percentile

75th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Shafer's home value compares nationally

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

$225,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Shafer $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 - Shafer, MN Shafer, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Shafer, 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 Shafer, MN median $96,042/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%
Shafer, 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 Shafer, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 75.8%

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

Population
1,151
Median Income
$96,042
Median Home Value
$225,700
Median Age
35.5
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Labor force participation
75.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.0%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,140 residents1,160 residents1,180 residents1,200 residents1,220 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,161 residents 1,212 residents ▲ +4.4%
Shafer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 12
2020 9
2021 8
2022 0
2023 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2023.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.9%
Carpool
9.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
7.5%
Other
2.0%

Based on 625 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 Shafer sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
44.5 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Elgin
1,147 people
New London
1,156 people
Dellwood
1,145 people
Elbow Lake
1,158 people
Fairfax
1,134 people
East Gull Lake
1,173 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Shafer's 1,151 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Laton, CA
1,151 people
Millington, MI
1,151 people
Whitehall, MT
1,151 people
Hadley, NY
1,151 people
Point Marion, PA
1,151 people
Entiat, WA
1,151 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Shafer's $96,042 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

White, FL
$96,042 median income
Barnhart, MO
$96,042 median income
Dunn Center, ND
$96,042 median income
Meadow Acres, WY
$96,042 median income
Seabrook, MD
$96,033 median income
Meggett, SC
$96,032 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Shafer, 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 Shafer, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.9% 10.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.9% White 84.9% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.3% Two or more races 10.9% 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 Shafer 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
Shafer (this city) 1,151 $96,042
Elgin 1,147 $87,000
New London 1,156 $66,830
Dellwood 1,145 $208,125
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Shafer, MN?

What is the population of Shafer, MN? +

The population of Shafer, MN stands at 1,151 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Shafer runs $96,042, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Shafer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Shafer; 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 Shafer, MN? +

Homes in Shafer carry a median value of $225,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.