County · Minnesota
Cook County, Minnesota
Cook County, Minnesota. Cook County had 5,522 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.4% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. It holds 5 places (1 city, village or borough, 3 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 27031.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,522
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,600 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,635
Median household income
$72,638
±$4,412 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$336,200
±$27,388 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$886
±$102 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
How many people live in Cook County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 5,600 residents in Cook County. The Census Bureau estimates 5,522 for July 1, 2025, down 1.4% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 5,635 over 1,453 square miles of land.
| Measure | Cook County | Minnesota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,635 | 5,739,445 | +259 |
| Households | 2,710±206 | 2,307,955 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.05±0.16 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,079±23 | 2,545,030 | no clear change |
Cook County's population since 2000
From 5,168 in 2000 to 5,522 in 2025: up 6.8%. 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.
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 Cook County?
Cook County holds 5 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place), 3 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Grand Marais with 1,290 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Grand Marais | 1,337 | $70,583 |
|---|---|---|
| Lutsen Township | 537 | $86,625 |
| Tofte Township | 269 | $56,875 |
| LutsenGEOID 2738546 | 220 | $76,944 |
| Schroeder TownshipGEOID 2703158999 | 179 | $58,958 |
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 Cook County?
The median resident of Cook County is 53.0 years old; 14.5% are under 18 and 31.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.6%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 6.1%. 3.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Cook County | Minnesota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.0±1.3 | 38.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 14.5%±0.9 pts | 22.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 31.2%±0.5 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.1% | 6.4% | +0.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.6%±0.3 pts | 75.9% | −1.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.3%±0.5 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.4 pts | 5.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 6.1%±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.8%±1.1 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5%±1.2 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.2%±1.4 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8%±1.5 pts | 5.9% | – |
| With a disability | 12.3%±2.1 pts | 11.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.2%±2.1 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.6%±1.3 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 46.6%±3.6 pts | 39.4% | +6.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 20.0%±2.8 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9%±1.1 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 Cook County earn?
Half of Cook County's 2,710 households earn less than $72,638 a year (±$4,412), against $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $70,681 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Cook County | Minnesota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,638±$4,412 | $89,062 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $96,178±$8,248 | $118,304 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,808±$4,242 | $48,237 | +$5,956 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.2%±2.8 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.1%±8.5 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.1%±1.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.7%±2.2 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 Cook County?
Owners occupy 77.7% of Cook County's occupied homes and renters 22.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $336,200 by its owner (±$27,388). The median renter pays $886 a month including utilities, and 24.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Cook County | Minnesota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $336,200±$27,388 | $329,300 | +$40,710 |
| Median gross rent | $886±$102 | $1,280 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.8%±8.4 pts | 38.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,739±$124 | $1,947 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.7%±3.7 pts | 72.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,079±23 | 2,545,030 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.9%±4.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 87.7%±1.7 pts | 66.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.1%±0.5 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.3%±0.8 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.3%±2.3 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 Cook County building?
Builders took permits for 64 new housing units across Cook County in 2025 (64 single-family), 11.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Cook County get to work?
63.0% of Cook County's workers drive alone and 21.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.2%.
| Measure | Cook County | Minnesota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.6%±3.3 pts | 68.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.2%±1.1 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 63.0%±4.7 pts | 68.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.2%±2.1 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.8%±1.9 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 6.3%±2.5 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.6%±4.6 pts | 17.6% | +13.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.6 min±2.6 | 22.7 min | no clear change |
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 Cook County's census tracts?
Cook County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $64,261 (Tract 4801.01) to $77,097 (Tract 4801.02).
| Tract 4801.0127031480101 | 1,492±181 | $64,261 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4801.0227031480102 | 1,904±221 | $77,097 |
| Tract 480227031480200 | 2,239±261 | $72,773 |
| Tract 990027031990000 | 0±10 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Cook County compare with Minnesota's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 80th of 87 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 65th of 87 |
| Residents per square mile | 85th of 87 |
| Median household income | 51st of 87 |
| Median home value | 10th of 87 |
| Median gross rent | 46th of 87 |
| Poverty rate | 45th of 87 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5th of 87 |
| Median age | 2nd of 87 |
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 Cook 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.