City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

The Lakes, MN

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

666
Residents
$88,929
Median income
$391,900
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

The Lakes - the verdict

The Lakes ranks in the 70th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

70th
percentile, household income
77th
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: The Lakes, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 666 residents in The Lakes, a small town within Minnesota. The Lakes households earn a median of $88,929 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.3%. Typical homes in The Lakes are valued around $391,900, and the median resident age is 63.4 years. Educational attainment runs 30.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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 $973 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 19.8 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

666 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$88,929 /yr

Poverty 2.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does The Lakes compare to other US cities?

The Lakes measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 70% higher than other cities
Home value 77% 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

Each percentile compares The Lakes against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places The Lakes near the bottom of Minnesota's cities

Among the 785 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, The Lakes ranks #531 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares The Lakes only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#190 of 775
75th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#531 of 785
0th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#67 of 774
91st percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#586 of 785
24th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#207 of 784
74th percentile in Minnesota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Minnesota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

70thIncome percentile

70th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How The Lakes's home value compares nationally

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

$391,900 23rd percentile more affordable than 23% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. The Lakes $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 - The Lakes, MN The Lakes, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not The Lakes, 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 The Lakes, MN median $88,929/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%
The Lakes, 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 The Lakes, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.8%

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

Population
666
Median Income
$88,929
Median Home Value
$391,900
Median Age
63.4
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Labor force participation
51.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.4%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.9%
Carpool
6.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
15.3%
Other
4.1%

Based on 314 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 The Lakes 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
19.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Buffalo Lake
664 people
Center City
668 people
Elysian
663 people
St. Stephen
672 people
Emily
659 people
Hokah
673 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to The Lakes's 666 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Stebbins, AK
666 people
Sawmill, AZ
666 people
Cinco Bayou, FL
666 people
Yankeetown, FL
666 people
Pennville, IN
666 people
Brookfield, NJ
666 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to The Lakes's $88,929 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ivanhoe, NC
$88,929 median income
Mountainhome, PA
$88,924 median income
Surfside, FL
$88,938 median income
Paulden, AZ
$88,945 median income
Lobo Canyon, NM
$88,951 median income
Hickman, CA
$88,906 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - The Lakes, 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 The Lakes, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% White 94.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.9% Two or more races 3.3% 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 The Lakes 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
The Lakes (this city) 666 $88,929
Buffalo Lake 664 $56,719
Center City 668 $94,712
Elysian 663 $98,571
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about The Lakes, MN?

What is the population of The Lakes, MN? +

The population of The Lakes, MN stands at 666 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in The Lakes, MN? +

The median household income in The Lakes is $88,929 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in The Lakes? +

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

The median home value in The Lakes is $391,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.