City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Willow River, MN

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

351
Residents
$52,188
Median income
$197,700
Median home
$1,101
Median rent (state)

Willow River - the verdict

Willow River ranks in the 23rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

23rd
percentile, household income
42nd
percentile, home value
29th
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: Willow River, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 351 residents in Willow River, a small town within Minnesota. Willow River households earn a median of $52,188 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 6.5%. Typical homes in Willow River are valued around $197,700, and the median resident age is 37.3 years. 9.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 54.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Willow River (Building Boom), up 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,101 per month statewide. 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 62.2 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

351 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$52,188 /yr

Poverty 6.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Willow River compare to other US cities?

Where Willow River sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 23% higher than other cities
Home value 42% pricier than other cities
Median rent 29% 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 Willow River against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Willow River toward the bottom of Minnesota's cities

Among the 784 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Willow River ranks #695 - the 11th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Willow River only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#640 of 775
17th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#344 of 785
55th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#321 of 774
59th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#333 of 785
57th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#695 of 784
11th 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.

23rdIncome percentile

23rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Willow River's home value compares nationally

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

$197,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 58% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Willow River $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 - Willow River, MN Willow River, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Willow River, 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 Willow River, MN median $52,188/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%
Willow River, 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 Willow River, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.4%

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

Population
351
Median Income
$52,188
Median Home Value
$197,700
Median Age
37.3
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Labor force participation
54.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.2%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
385 residents390 residents395 residents400 residents405 residents 202020212022202320242025 387 residents 400 residents ▲ +3.4%
Willow River's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 4
2022 0
2023 1
2024 2

Permit volume increased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.6%
Carpool
19.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
8.9%
Other
1.2%

Based on 158 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 Willow River sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,101/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
62.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Big Lake
351 people
Rushmore
351 people
Remer
348 people
Jeffers
355 people
Kelliher
347 people
Wykoff
356 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Willow River's 351 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bluffton, GA
351 people
Ute, IA
351 people
Hunters Hollow, KY
351 people
Leitersburg, MD
351 people
Oakdale, NE
351 people
Saddle Rock Estates, NY
351 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Willow River's $52,188 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grayling, AK
$52,188 median income
Traver, CA
$52,188 median income
Iron City, GA
$52,188 median income
Tiger, GA
$52,188 median income
Plummer, ID
$52,188 median income
Grafton, IA
$52,188 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Willow River, 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 Willow River, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 98.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.7% 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 Willow River 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
Willow River (this city) 351 $52,188
Big Lake 351 $84,583
Rushmore 351 $39,205
Remer 348 $42,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Willow River, MN?

What is the population of Willow River, MN? +

Willow River, MN has a population of 351 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Willow River, MN? +

Median annual household income in Willow River runs $52,188, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Willow River? +

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

Homes in Willow River carry a median value of $197,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.