County · Minnesota

Carlton County, Minnesota

Carlton County, Minnesota. Carlton County had 36,711 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). It holds 31 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs, 19 towns and townships and 3 census-designated) and 9 census tracts. GEOID 27017.

Carlton County is one of the 3 counties of the Duluth, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

36,711

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 36,207 · ACS 2020-2024: 36,518

Median household income

$80,573

±$4,049 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$245,100

±$6,536 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$1,009

±$61 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

How many people live in Carlton County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 36,207 residents in Carlton County. The Census Bureau estimates 36,711 for July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 36,518 over 861 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +265 (36,455)
2021→2022 +283 (36,738)
2022→2023 −44 (36,694)
2023→2024 +31 (36,725)
2024→2025 −14 (36,711)

Carlton County in Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Carlton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	36,518	5,739,445	+885
Households	14,090±237	2,307,955	+477
Average household size	2.39±0.04	2.43	−0.06
Housing units	15,896±62	2,545,030	no clear change

Carlton County's population since 2000

From 31,671 in 2000 to 36,711 in 2025: up 15.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 31,671
2005 (estimate) 34,367
2010 Census 35,386
2015 (estimate) 35,400
2020 Census 36,207
2025 (estimate) 36,711

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Carlton County?

Carlton County holds 31 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 19 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Cloquet with 12,399 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Carlton County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Cloquet	city	12,568	12,537±70	$61,367	$212,700	15.9%	100%
Thomson Township	township	5,465	5,534±18	$119,338	$339,000	3.7%	100%
Moose Lake	city	2,789	2,863±41	$64,286	$205,000	51.2%	100%
Twin Lakes Township, Carlton County	township	2,093	2,259±381	$105,272	$325,600	2.7%	100%
EskoGEOID 2719718	CDP	2,082	1,813±401	$109,063	$318,800	3.5%	100%
Barnum Township	township	1,098	1,172±151	$88,036	$243,900	13.1%	100%
Moose Lake Township, Carlton County	township	988	1,036±163	$86,696	$242,000	7.2%	100%
Scanlon	city	987	1,146±224	$68,750	$228,800	7.7%	100%
Blackhoof Township	township	985	1,039±209	$105,000	$269,400	4.1%	100%
Perch Lake Township	township	977	985±135	$90,000	$235,000	11.9%	100%
Carlton	city	948	875±150	$63,375	$201,400	6.0%	100%
Barnum	city	620	503±81	$43,438	$155,200	18.5%	100%
Silver Brook Township	township	614	544±118	$88,036	$275,600	5.7%	100%
Mahtowa Township	township	553	690±129	$95,547	$267,700	4.2%	100%
Eagle Township	township	531	554±104	$94,167	$235,500	6.9%	100%
Big Lake, Carlton County	CDP	464	378±73	$92,500	$256,800	12.7%	100%
Silver Township	township	448	373±57	$81,250	$250,000	11.6%	100%
Wrenshall Township	township	443	422±82	$79,250	$237,900	4.0%	100%
Wrenshall	city	428	404±74	$98,750	$243,200	7.3%	100%
Skelton Township	township	413	477±113	$75,625	$276,900	6.3%	100%
Atkinson Township	township	400	383±77	$100,833	$295,600	4.2%	100%
Mahtowa	CDP	332	428±112	$78,750	$273,400	3.7%	100%
Kalevala Township	township	304	271±50	$66,250	$234,400	4.8%	100%
Cromwell	city	240	423±179	$58,750	$156,300	6.1%	100%
Holyoke TownshipGEOID 2701729942	township	209	192±55	$96,250	$217,900	6.8%	100%
Lakeview Township	township	207	238±63	$80,938	$286,000	3.8%	100%
WrightGEOID 2771824	city	168	96±27	$59,375	$143,800	29.5%	100%
Kettle RiverGEOID 2732966	city	166	140±27	$65,000	$154,200	12.9%	100%
Split Rock Township	township	161	175±43	$63,214	$225,000	16.6%	100%
Automba TownshipGEOID 2701703016	township	150	136±40	$51,806	$259,100	14.0%	100%
Beseman Township	township	138	141±48	$102,500	$245,300	1.4%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Carlton County?

The median resident of Carlton County is 41.4 years old; 21.5% are under 18 and 18.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.9%. 1.8% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Carlton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.4±0.5	38.8	no clear change
Under 18 years	21.5%±0.1 pts	22.9%	–
65 years and over	18.5%±0.1 pts	17.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.9%	6.4%	+0.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	86.9%±0.3 pts	75.9%	−1.2 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	2.2%±0.1 pts	6.9%	+0.3 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.3 pts	5.1%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	3.1%±0.4 pts	0.7%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.9%±0.6 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.8%±0.7 pts	8.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.6%±0.5 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.8%±0.9 pts	5.9%	–
With a disability	15.6%±1.4 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.5%±0.6 pts	4.7%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.6%±1.1 pts	93.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	26.5%±1.6 pts	39.4%	+4.4 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	9.2%±1.2 pts	13.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.2%±0.4 pts	1.8%	–

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 Carlton County earn?

Half of Carlton County's 14,090 households earn less than $80,573 a year (±$4,049), against $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $77,654 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carlton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$80,573±$4,049	$89,062	no clear change
Mean household income	$99,202±$5,081	$118,304	–
Per capita income	$39,410±$1,878	$48,237	+$3,178
People below the poverty line	11.9%±1.5 pts	9.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	14.7%±3.8 pts	10.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	7.4%±1.2 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.0%±1.6 pts	91.6%	–

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 Carlton County?

Owners occupy 80.0% of Carlton County's occupied homes and renters 20.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $245,100 by its owner (±$6,536). The median renter pays $1,009 a month including utilities, and 34.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carlton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$245,100±$6,536	$329,300	+$34,159
Median gross rent	$1,009±$61	$1,280	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	34.2%±6.5 pts	38.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,659±$32	$1,947	–
Owner-occupied homes	80.0%±1.8 pts	72.2%	no clear change
Housing units	15,896±62	2,545,030	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.1%±1.4 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	2.3%±1.3 pts	5.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	80.3%±1.6 pts	66.0%	–
Mobile homes	6.0%±1.1 pts	2.9%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.2%±0.4 pts	1.9%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	18.8%±1.9 pts	15.6%	–

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 Carlton County building?

Builders took permits for 155 new housing units across Carlton County in 2025 (109 single-family), 4.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 178 units
2020 101 units
2021 130 units
2022 75 units
2023 90 units
2024 126 units
2025 155 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Carlton County get to work?

78.7% of Carlton County's workers drive alone and 9.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.8%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carlton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	59.3%±1.3 pts	68.1%	–
Unemployment rate	4.8%±1.2 pts	4.1%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	78.7%±1.9 pts	68.9%	–
Carpooled	8.0%±1.4 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.2%±0.3 pts	1.8%	–
Walked	2.0%±0.7 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	9.5%±1.2 pts	17.6%	+5.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	21.5 min±0.7	22.7 min	−1.9 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 are Carlton County's census tracts?

Carlton County is divided into 9 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $60,142 (Tract 702) to $119,289 (Tract 703).

Census tracts of Carlton County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 70127017070100	Cloquet (98%)	5,340	5,271±443	$63,451	$199,800	$951	16.1%
Tract 70227017070200	Cloquet (58%)	4,145	4,493±348	$60,142	$225,400	$1,186	13.7%
Tract 70327017070300	Esko (24%)	5,612	5,643±50	$119,289	$337,100	$1,215	3.7%
Tract 704.0127017070401	Cloquet (57%)	3,606	3,854±476	$63,707	$228,200	$1,067	12.7%
Tract 704.0227017070402	Carlton (7%)	4,265	4,235±222	$99,167	$270,800	$1,010	4.6%
Tract 705.0127017070501	Moose Lake (62%)	3,647	3,680±138	$73,214	$221,000	$898	36.2%
Tract 705.0227017070502	Barnum (12%)	3,132	3,143±228	$83,194	$263,000	$902	10.0%
Tract 70627017070600	Cromwell (7%)	3,375	3,337±223	$73,795	$232,600	$831	8.5%
Tract 940027017940000	Cloquet (28%)	3,085	2,862±211	$71,875	$224,600	$726	13.3%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Carlton County compare with Minnesota's other counties?

Carlton County's rank among Minnesota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	30th of 87
Growth 2020-2025	37th of 87
Residents per square mile	33rd of 87
Median household income	20th of 87
Median home value	37th of 87
Median gross rent	22nd of 87
Poverty rate	26th of 87
Bachelor's degree or higher	35th of 87
Median age	48th of 87

Every county in Minnesota

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Carlton County 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' school search.