County · Minnesota

Cottonwood County, Minnesota

Cottonwood County, Minnesota. Cottonwood County had 11,405 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.9% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. It holds 25 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 18 towns and townships) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 27033.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

11,405

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,517 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,458

Median household income

$72,941

±$5,820 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$169,300

±$8,902 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$817

±$75 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

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

The 2020 Census counted 11,517 residents in Cottonwood County. The Census Bureau estimates 11,405 for July 1, 2025, down 0.9% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 11,458 over 640 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +75 (11,592)
2021→2022 −183 (11,409)
2022→2023 +18 (11,427)
2023→2024 −20 (11,407)
2024→2025 −2 (11,405)

Cottonwood County in Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Cottonwood County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	11,458	5,739,445	+159
Households	4,630±142	2,307,955	−216
Average household size	2.39±0.07	2.43	+0.12
Housing units	5,168±63	2,545,030	−255

Cottonwood County's population since 2000

From 12,167 in 2000 to 11,405 in 2025: down 6.3%. 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 12,167
2005 (estimate) 11,967
2010 Census 11,687
2015 (estimate) 11,431
2020 Census 11,517
2025 (estimate) 11,405

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 Cottonwood County?

Cottonwood County holds 25 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 18 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Windom with 4,817 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 Cottonwood County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Windom	city	4,798	4,799±42	$74,899	$169,700	14.3%	100%
Mountain Lake	city	1,999	2,070±190	$66,490	$143,100	14.3%	100%
Westbrook	city	758	792±99	$35,119	$78,200	26.0%	100%
Jeffers	city	349	368±115	$50,500	$87,400	41.3%	100%
Mountain Lake TownshipGEOID 2703344584	township	315	223±73	$108,571	$234,200	29.1%	100%
Great Bend Township	township	314	352±78	$68,750	$325,000	7.4%	100%
Carson TownshipGEOID 2703310108	township	283	262±68	$85,469	$185,600	24.0%	100%
Lakeside Township, Cottonwood CountyGEOID 2703335000	township	237	431±134	$101,250	$291,500	0.9%	100%
Storden	city	225	244±67	$83,750	$81,000	18.9%	100%
Midway Township, Cottonwood CountyGEOID 2703342002	township	221	215±58	$93,750	$271,200	6.0%	100%
Westbrook TownshipGEOID 2703369268	township	198	201±51	$74,028	$270,800	3.5%	100%
Germantown TownshipGEOID 2703323570	township	171	179±62	$94,167	$159,400	5.6%	100%
Selma TownshipGEOID 2703359224	township	170	140±46	$78,125	$264,300	17.9%	100%
Storden TownshipGEOID 2703363040	township	165	147±39	$66,875	$181,300	10.2%	100%
Ann Township	township	160	143±46	$104,583	$185,000	15.4%	100%
Dale TownshipGEOID 2703314608	township	145	123±34	$108,750	$329,200	9.8%	100%
Highwater TownshipGEOID 2703329060	township	143	103±29	$76,875	$200,000	12.6%	100%
Amboy TownshipGEOID 2703301342	township	142	109±29	$70,625	$178,100	11.0%	100%
Bingham LakeGEOID 2705896	city	137	95±51	$88,125	$216,700	12.6%	100%
Delton TownshipGEOID 2703315652	township	131	66±34	$76,667	$270,000	7.6%	100%
Rose Hill TownshipGEOID 2703355672	township	129	98±45	$96,250	$190,000	5.1%	100%
Amo TownshipGEOID 2703301441	township	121	103±45	$77,500	$243,800	3.9%	100%
Springfield TownshipGEOID 2703361834	township	118	127±62	$66,563	$137,500	9.4%	100%
Southbrook TownshipGEOID 2703361294	township	74	54±23	$103,500	$237,500	11.1%	100%
Comfrey	city	392	338±72	$61,875	$96,300	13.3%	4%

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 Cottonwood County?

The median resident of Cottonwood County is 40.3 years old; 25.2% are under 18 and 22.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 11.3%. 6.9% 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	Cottonwood County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	40.3±1.1	38.8	−2.6
Under 18 years	25.2%±0.3 pts	22.9%	–
65 years and over	22.7%±0.3 pts	17.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	11.3%	6.4%	+3.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	80.0%±0.5 pts	75.9%	−6.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.7%±0.4 pts	6.9%	+0.8 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	3.8%±0.5 pts	5.1%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.7%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	1.9%±0.9 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.3 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	6.9%±1.3 pts	8.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	10.3%±0.9 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.1%±0.9 pts	5.9%	–
With a disability	11.6%±1.3 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.9%±1.4 pts	4.7%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.5%±1.2 pts	93.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	24.1%±2.8 pts	39.4%	+4.1 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.9%±1.4 pts	13.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.2%±0.2 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 Cottonwood County earn?

Half of Cottonwood County's 4,630 households earn less than $72,941 a year (±$5,820), against $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 the median was $64,103 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,838 after inflation. 15.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cottonwood County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$72,941±$5,820	$89,062	+$8,838
Mean household income	$89,108±$4,540	$118,304	–
Per capita income	$36,506±$1,745	$48,237	+$2,712
People below the poverty line	15.0%±2.1 pts	9.3%	+4.0 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	21.3%±5.4 pts	10.3%	+10.4 pts
Households receiving SNAP	9.4%±1.9 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	85.3%±2.3 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 Cottonwood County?

Owners occupy 74.4% of Cottonwood County's occupied homes and renters 25.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,300 by its owner (±$8,902). The median renter pays $817 a month including utilities, and 21.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cottonwood County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$169,300±$8,902	$329,300	+$53,369
Median gross rent	$817±$75	$1,280	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	21.0%±6.2 pts	38.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,323±$89	$1,947	–
Owner-occupied homes	74.4%±3.0 pts	72.2%	no clear change
Housing units	5,168±63	2,545,030	−255
Homeowner vacancy rate	3.6%±2.1 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.1%±3.4 pts	5.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	84.0%±2.4 pts	66.0%	–
Mobile homes	0.7%±0.4 pts	2.9%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.9%±0.7 pts	1.9%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	25.3%±2.4 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 Cottonwood County building?

Builders took permits for 10 new housing units across Cottonwood County in 2025 (10 single-family), 0.9 per 1,000 residents.

2019 11 units
2020 8 units
2021 23 units
2022 73 units
2023 10 units
2024 8 units
2025 10 units

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

How do people in Cottonwood County get to work?

71.7% of Cottonwood County's workers drive alone and 10.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.8%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cottonwood County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	64.3%±1.9 pts	68.1%	–
Unemployment rate	2.8%±1.1 pts	4.1%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	71.7%±3.5 pts	68.9%	–
Carpooled	10.4%±1.8 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.2 pts	1.8%	–
Walked	4.3%±1.6 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	10.7%±1.9 pts	17.6%	+4.3 pts
Mean travel time to work	15.3 min±1.3	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 Cottonwood County's census tracts?

Cottonwood County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $58,750 (Tract 2702) to $99,333 (Tract 2703).

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

Tract 270127033270100	Mountain Lake (27%)	2,758	2,626±192	$72,614	$163,400	$926	15.3%
Tract 270227033270200	Westbrook (18%)	2,311	2,286±170	$58,750	$115,700	$725	21.0%
Tract 270327033270300	Windom (20%)	3,199	3,505±263	$99,333	$207,200	$740	6.3%
Tract 270427033270400	Windom (47%)	3,249	3,041±294	$61,902	$153,400	$830	20.4%

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

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

Cottonwood County's rank among Minnesota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	63rd of 87
Growth 2020-2025	61st of 87
Residents per square mile	58th of 87
Median household income	49th of 87
Median home value	67th of 87
Median gross rent	61st of 87
Poverty rate	4th of 87
Bachelor's degree or higher	49th of 87
Median age	58th 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 Cottonwood 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.