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Living in
Detroit Lakes.
About
Life in Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes is a community of 10,002 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $62,958, median rent runs about $954 per month, and median home values are around $265,800. Unemployment is low at 4.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Detroit Lakes at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Foreign-Born
1.1%
Broadband Internet
91.8%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.1% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Detroit Lakes: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Detroit Lakes, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (46.0%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.8%
of residents
65 and Older
25.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.0%
of households
Married Couples
40.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.16
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Detroit Lakes
In Detroit Lakes, rent runs 25% below the MN average, and home values are 19% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.9%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,359
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $372,324 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above MN average
Unemployment in Detroit Lakes
Unemployment in Becker County, which includes Detroit Lakes, is 0.6 percentage points higher than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Detroit Lakes: Becker County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Becker County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Detroit Lakes Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.2 min avg
How Detroit Lakes residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Detroit Lakes, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 46 mi
Hector International Airport (FAR)
Small hub599k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 42% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Detroit Lakes runs 42% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
189.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,644.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Detroit Lakes Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
37.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Becker County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Becker County, which includes Detroit Lakes, the most common type is hail, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Drought | None reported |
| 2024 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2023 | 14 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2022 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2020 | 16 | Hail | $20,000 |
| 2019 | 26 | Winter Storm | Not estimated |
| 2018 | 16 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Becker County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Becker County, which includes Detroit Lakes, is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
71
per year
Unhealthy Days
6
per year
Becker County, county-wide
Climate77°F summers, 1°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Detroit Lakes has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and very cold winters (avg low 1°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
51°/29°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
53°/33°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
21°/1°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
29.5"
Annual Snowfall
47.6"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
177
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°F | -4°F | 0.82" |
| Feb | 23°F | 0°F | 0.66" |
| Mar | 36°F | 15°F | 0.96" |
| Apr | 52°F | 29°F | 2.03" |
| May | 66°F | 42°F | 3.73" |
| Jun | 76°F | 53°F | 4.90" |
| Jul | 79°F | 58°F | 4.35" |
| Aug | 78°F | 55°F | 3.26" |
| Sep | 70°F | 46°F | 3.55" |
| Oct | 53°F | 34°F | 2.84" |
| Nov | 37°F | 19°F | 1.37" |
| Dec | 22°F | 6°F | 0.98" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Essentia Health St Marys - Detroit Lakes
Acute Care Hospitals
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Detroit Lakes
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes Library
1000 Washington Ave, Detroit Lakes
Cities Near Detroit Lakes
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Detroit Lakes?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Detroit Lakes FAQ
Is Detroit Lakes, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Detroit Lakes's median rent is $954/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,958/year. Median home value is $265,800.
Is Detroit Lakes, Minnesota safe?⌄
Detroit Lakes's violent crime rate was 189 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1645 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota?⌄
Becker County, which includes Detroit Lakes, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Detroit Lakes is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $954/month and median household income is $62,958/year. The median home value is $265,800. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Detroit Lakes is 14 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from