County · Minnesota

Swift County, Minnesota

Swift County, Minnesota. Swift County had 9,763 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.7% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. It holds 29 places (8 cities, villages and boroughs and 21 towns and townships) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 27151.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

9,763

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,838 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,748

Median household income

$60,412

±$3,430 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$161,400

±$6,637 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$920

±$63 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

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

The 2020 Census counted 9,838 residents in Swift County. The Census Bureau estimates 9,763 for July 1, 2025, down 0.7% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 9,748 over 742 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −14 (9,787)
2021→2022 −27 (9,760)
2022→2023 −73 (9,687)
2023→2024 +34 (9,721)
2024→2025 +42 (9,763)

Swift County in Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Swift County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	9,748	5,739,445	+389
Households	4,121±130	2,307,955	no clear change
Average household size	2.31±0.07	2.43	+0.15
Housing units	4,706±33	2,545,030	−137

Swift County's population since 2000

From 11,956 in 2000 to 9,763 in 2025: down 18.3%. 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 11,956
2005 (estimate) 10,232
2010 Census 9,783
2015 (estimate) 9,379
2020 Census 9,838
2025 (estimate) 9,763

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 Swift County?

Swift County holds 29 places: 8 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 21 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Benson with 3,444 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 Swift County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Benson	city	3,480	3,441±29	$52,821	$156,000	9.8%	100%
Appleton	city	1,392	1,393±143	$43,958	$77,000	28.3%	100%
Kerkhoven	city	805	802±120	$72,813	$166,000	5.7%	100%
Torning Township	township	409	402±81	$90,833	$203,800	9.0%	100%
Murdock	city	306	331±66	$73,333	$103,100	9.2%	100%
Benson Township	township	306	261±77	$94,583	$255,600	3.9%	100%
Pillsbury Township	township	287	259±66	$84,125	$281,300	6.9%	100%
Kerkhoven TownshipGEOID 2715132894	township	227	153±43	$88,750	$304,800	0.7%	100%
Hayes TownshipGEOID 2715127854	township	223	175±42	$81,875	$271,400	7.4%	100%
Appleton TownshipGEOID 2715101882	township	193	248±70	$103,958	$222,900	8.5%	100%
Dublin TownshipGEOID 2715116444	township	192	260±115	$81,250	$329,300	3.5%	100%
Camp Lake TownshipGEOID 2715109532	township	162	159±40	$93,750	$195,800	5.7%	100%
Six Mile Grove TownshipGEOID 2715160592	township	152	155±39	$71,250	$237,500	7.1%	100%
Cashel Township	township	147	294±130	$17,077	$270,800	59.9%	100%
West Bank TownshipGEOID 2715169214	township	138	98±18	$106,250	$187,500	4.1%	100%
Kildare TownshipGEOID 2715133092	township	134	107±45	$96,389	$269,600	6.5%	100%
ClontarfGEOID 2712124	city	128	45±12	$86,250	$128,100	0.0%	100%
Fairfield Township, Swift CountyGEOID 2715120258	township	114	135±53	$71,667	$166,100	0.0%	100%
De GraffGEOID 2715418	city	110	58±17	$67,750	$105,600	3.4%	100%
Swenoda TownshipGEOID 2715163904	township	104	87±31	$52,321	$261,800	5.7%	100%
DanversGEOID 2714734	city	103	126±61	$122,727	$161,500	0.0%	100%
Shible TownshipGEOID 2715159818	township	101	89±32	$90,833	$208,300	10.1%	100%
Edison TownshipGEOID 2715118206	township	98	127±43	$95,833	$162,500	5.5%	100%
Marysland TownshipGEOID 2715140904	township	96	83±28	$106,458	$285,000	0.0%	100%
Moyer TownshipGEOID 2715144674	township	94	90±29	$82,917	$206,300	4.4%	100%
HollowayGEOID 2729672	city	87	74±25	$63,750	$65,600	6.8%	100%
Tara Township, Swift CountyGEOID 2715164228	township	86	102±31	$126,964	$187,500	4.9%	100%
Clontarf TownshipGEOID 2715112142	township	85	158±54	$170,500	$212,500	10.1%	100%
Hegbert TownshipGEOID 2715128160	township	79	36±16	$163,125	not published	0.0%	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 Swift County?

The median resident of Swift County is 41.8 years old; 22.5% are under 18 and 23.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.2%. 3.0% 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	Swift County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.8±0.8	38.8	−2.1
Under 18 years	22.5%±0.7 pts	22.9%	–
65 years and over	23.5%±0.3 pts	17.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7.2%	6.4%	+2.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	86.0%±0.7 pts	75.9%	−5.2 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.5 pts	6.9%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.2 pts	5.1%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	1.9%±0.8 pts	0.7%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	1.1%±0.2 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.0%±1.0 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	3.0%±0.8 pts	8.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.6%±1.1 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.7%±1.1 pts	5.9%	–
With a disability	19.0%±2.0 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	8.1%±1.8 pts	4.7%	+3.9 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.9%±1.6 pts	93.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	24.2%±2.8 pts	39.4%	+4.6 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.1%±1.4 pts	13.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.8 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 Swift County earn?

Half of Swift County's 4,121 households earn less than $60,412 a year (±$3,430), against $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $63,528 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Swift County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$60,412±$3,430	$89,062	no clear change
Mean household income	$84,064±$4,362	$118,304	–
Per capita income	$36,134±$1,770	$48,237	−$2,959
People below the poverty line	12.0%±1.9 pts	9.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	10.7%±2.4 pts	10.3%	−7.5 pts
Households receiving SNAP	12.3%±2.5 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	84.3%±2.4 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 Swift County?

Owners occupy 72.4% of Swift County's occupied homes and renters 27.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $161,400 by its owner (±$6,637). The median renter pays $920 a month including utilities, and 47.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Swift County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$161,400±$6,637	$329,300	+$33,285
Median gross rent	$920±$63	$1,280	+$113
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	47.2%±10.1 pts	38.4%	+16.4 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,373±$77	$1,947	–
Owner-occupied homes	72.4%±2.8 pts	72.2%	no clear change
Housing units	4,706±33	2,545,030	−137
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.1%±1.0 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.4%±5.1 pts	5.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	79.1%±2.2 pts	66.0%	–
Mobile homes	1.7%±0.7 pts	2.9%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.6%±0.4 pts	1.9%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	28.9%±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 Swift County building?

Builders took permits for 34 new housing units across Swift County in 2025 (10 single-family), 3.5 per 1,000 residents.

2019 9 units
2020 6 units
2021 7 units
2022 22 units
2023 11 units
2024 22 units
2025 34 units

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

How do people in Swift County get to work?

77.1% of Swift County's workers drive alone and 7.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Swift County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	59.7%±2.3 pts	68.1%	–
Unemployment rate	4.4%±1.2 pts	4.1%	+2.0 pts
Drove alone to work	77.1%±3.0 pts	68.9%	–
Carpooled	6.2%±1.8 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.3 pts	1.8%	–
Walked	7.4%±2.4 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	7.5%±1.4 pts	17.6%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	19.4 min±1.5	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 Swift County's census tracts?

Swift County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $53,179 (Tract 9602) to $95,833 (Tract 9603).

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

Tract 960127151960100	Kerkhoven (17%)	2,491	2,483±160	$74,509	$203,200	$850	12.0%
Tract 960227151960200	Benson (93%)	3,572	3,584±83	$53,179	$156,500	$983	9.6%
Tract 960327151960300	Clontarf (4%)	1,623	1,489±105	$95,833	$218,800	$1,077	6.5%
Tract 960427151960400	Appleton (37%)	2,152	2,192±164	$59,539	$96,900	$733	19.9%

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

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

Swift County's rank among Minnesota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	68th of 87
Growth 2020-2025	60th of 87
Residents per square mile	67th of 87
Median household income	85th of 87
Median home value	76th of 87
Median gross rent	35th of 87
Poverty rate	25th of 87
Bachelor's degree or higher	48th of 87
Median age	43rd 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 Swift 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.