City · Minnesota
White Bear Lake, Minnesota
White Bear Lake, city, mostly in Ramsey County (98.4% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Washington County, Minnesota. White Bear Lake had 23,392 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 6.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 24,883 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 23,908 (±155). GEOID 2769970.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
23,392
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 24,883 · ACS 2020-2024: 23,908 ±155
Median household income
$83,554
±$7,140 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$331,800
±$6,127 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$1,601
±$84 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is White Bear Lake and what county is it in?
White Bear Lake is a city mostly in Ramsey County (98.4% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Washington County, Minnesota. It covers 8.0 square miles of land, 3,093 residents per square mile in 2020.
White Bear Lake is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 15 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsey County | 24,486 | 98.4% |
| Washington County | 397 | 1.6% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in White Bear Lake, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 23,392 people lived in White Bear Lake on July 1, 2025, down 6.0% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 24,883 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 23,908 (±155).
| Measure | White Bear Lake | Ramsey County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 23,908 ±155 | 542,945 | −1,765 |
| Households | 10,563 ±248 | 221,327 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.22 ±0.05 | 2.38 | −0.16 |
| Housing units | 11,060 ±297 | 233,870 | no clear change |
White Bear Lake's population since 2000
From 24,325 in 2000 to 23,392 in 2025: down 3.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for White Bear Lake 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 White Bear Lake?
The median resident of White Bear Lake is 41.9 years old; 20.4% are under 18 and 21.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.2%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 6.3%. 7.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | White Bear Lake | Ramsey County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 ±1.8 | 36.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.4% ±1.5 pts | 23.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.3% ±2.1 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±1.9 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.7% ±1.6 pts | 8.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.2% ±3.6 pts | 57.9% | −5.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±1.8 pts | 12.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.3% ±1.9 pts | 15.0% | +3.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±1.5 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.2% ±1.8 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.2% ±2.1 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.7% ±1.0 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6% ±1.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.1% ±0.9 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.1% ±1.2 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.7% ±3.1 pts | 45.6% | +7.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.1% ±1.8 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.3% ±2.1 pts | 85.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0% ±0.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
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 White Bear Lake earn?
Half of White Bear Lake's 10,563 households earn less than $83,554 a year (±$7,140), against $81,568 in Ramsey County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $88,252 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | White Bear Lake | Ramsey County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $83,554 ±$7,140 | $81,568 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $105,618 ±$6,083 | $112,592 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,608 ±$2,336 | $46,355 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.0% ±1.8 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.9% ±4.5 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.2% ±1.5 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.6% ±1.1 pts | 96.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.5% ±1.4 pts | 92.4% | – |
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 White Bear Lake?
Owners occupy 67.8% of White Bear Lake's occupied homes and renters 32.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $331,800 by its owner (±$6,127). The median renter pays $1,601 a month including utilities, and 42.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | White Bear Lake | Ramsey County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $331,800 ±$6,127 | $326,600 | +$53,663 |
| Median gross rent | $1,601 ±$84 | $1,329 | +$205 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.8% ±7.4 pts | 40.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,888 ±$66 | $1,975 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.8% ±2.8 pts | 60.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.2% ±2.8 pts | 39.4% | – |
| Housing units | 11,060 ±297 | 233,870 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.3% ±2.0 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.7% ±2.8 pts | 51.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5% ±0.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.0% ±2.2 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.4% ±2.4 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.2% ±1.6 pts | 10.2% | – |
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 White Bear Lake building?
Builders took permits for 6 new housing units in White Bear Lake in 2025 (6 in single-family houses), 0.3 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 White Bear Lake work and get to work?
70.9% of White Bear Lake's workers drive alone and 20.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.0%.
| Measure | White Bear Lake | Ramsey County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.1% ±2.6 pts | 68.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% ±1.5 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 70.9% ±3.2 pts | 62.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.9% ±1.5 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 20.9% ±2.8 pts | 20.5% | +16.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.0 min ±1.5 | 21.4 min | −3.1 min |
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 White Bear Lake?
7 census tracts lie mostly in White Bear Lake, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $60,313 (Tract 405.02) to $110,843 (Tract 403.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 404.02Ramsey County | 5,625 | $99,673 |
| Tract 403.02Ramsey County | 4,892 | $79,116 |
| Tract 404.01Ramsey County | 3,749 | $91,830 |
| Tract 405.04Ramsey County | 4,039 | $78,006 |
| Tract 405.02Ramsey County | 2,605 | $60,313 |
| Tract 402Ramsey County | 1,962 | $70,819 |
| Tract 405.03Ramsey County | 3,237 | $94,044 |
| Tract 403.01Ramsey County | 1,543 | $110,843 |
| Tract 703.03Washington County | 4,960 | $120,000 |
| Tract 401.02Ramsey County | 4,335 | $166,029 |
| Tract 406.06Ramsey County | 3,533 | $69,125 |
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 White Bear Lake) · Census block assignment files
How does White Bear Lake compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, White Bear Lake is the 1,699th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 47th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
White Bear Lake ranks 334th of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 47th | 855 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 554th | 556 |
| Residents per square mile | 27th | 562 |
| Median household income | 334th | 558 |
| Per capita income | 212th | 562 |
| Median home value | 244th | 559 |
| Median gross rent | 75th | 465 |
| Poverty rate | 259th | 461 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 113th | 559 |
| Median age | 257th | 561 |
| Owner-occupied share | 448th | 561 |
| Work from home | 83rd | 525 |
| Travel time to work | 345th | 562 |
White Bear Lake's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare White Bear Lake 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 White Bear Lake?
7 of the 57 figures for White Bear Lake 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 White Bear Lake 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 White Bear Lake.