Small-town market profile · Minnesota
Detroit Lakes, MN area market data
How the Detroit Lakes area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 35,497
- +0.9% since 2020
- Households
- 14,410
- Median household income
- $71,388
- Median home value
- $291,000
- Jobs located here
- 13,787
- Highest market score
- 86
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #9 of 537 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Detroit Lakes area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Detroit Lakes area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Detroit Lakes area has an estimated 35,497 people and 14,410 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Detroit Lakes area grew 0.9%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Detroit Lakes area is $71,388, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Detroit Lakes area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (68).
Of the business types scored in the Detroit Lakes area, fast food and sandwich shops (86), restaurants and cafes (82) and car washes and detailers (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #9 of 537 scored small-town markets.
The Detroit Lakes area is made up of one county, Becker County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet grooming and boarding businesses (92% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for fast food and sandwich shops (48% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Detroit Lakes area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Detroit Lakes area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 86 | #9 of 537 | 10 | 6.9 | $5.5M | 179 | 18 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 82 | #23 of 538 | 120 | 83.3 | $455K | 123 | 41 |
| Car washes and detailing | 79 | #20 of 441 | 6 | 4.2 | $3M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 76 | #36 of 454 | 5 | 3.5 | $1.1M | 113 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 76 | #37 of 538 | 62 | 43.0 | $881K | 133 | 21 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 76 | #47 of 538 | 87 | 60.4 | $230K | 151 | 27 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 74 | #35 of 507 | 9 | 6.2 | $6.1M | 146 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 74 | #49 of 377 | 5 | 3.5 | $2.8M | 148 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 74 | #57 of 536 | 18 | 12.5 | $2.5M | 105 | 17 |
| Funeral homes | 71 | #58 of 365 | 5 | 3.5 | $477K | 70 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 71 | #71 of 520 | 13 | 9.0 | $4.2M | 83 | 18 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 67 | #98 of 526 | 9 | 6.2 | $2.2M | 226 | 13 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 66 | #75 of 378 | 6 | 4.2 | $2.1M | 102 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 66 | #84 of 538 | 30 | 20.8 | $465K | 108 | 5 |
| Grocery stores | 66 | #99 of 506 | 7 | 4.9 | $12.2M | 132 | 7 |
| Auto repair and car care | 66 | #116 of 538 | 62 | 43.0 | $286K | 107 | 25 |
| Convenience stores | 64 | #139 of 529 | 14 | 9.7 | $6.1M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 63 | #150 of 538 | 32 | 22.2 | $2.7M | 79 | 8 |
| Nail salons | 60 | #129 of 387 | 7 | 4.9 | $2M | 119 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 60 | #185 of 536 | 29 | 20.1 | $958K | 109 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 59 | #173 of 529 | 15 | 10.4 | $3.6M | 98 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 58 | #142 of 398 | 7 | 4.9 | $1.7M | 62 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 56 | #223 of 536 | 24 | 16.7 | $1.2M | 91 | 8 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 55 | #151 of 387 | 6 | 4.2 | $3M | 96 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 55 | #210 of 538 | 58 | 40.2 | $241K | 113 | 11 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 54 | #231 of 535 | 26 | 18.0 | $477K | 72 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 54 | #234 of 538 | 43 | 29.8 | $413K | 93 | 21 |
| Roofing and gutters | 49 | #149 of 288 | 6 | 4.2 | $6.4M | 76 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 49 | #258 of 504 | 13 | 9.0 | $1.1M | 123 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 48 | #229 of 426 | 9 | 6.2 | $2.2M | 93 | 9 |
| Physical therapy | 47 | #234 of 400 | 12 | 8.3 | $1.7M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 46 | #305 of 506 | 19 | 13.2 | $652K | 50 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 43 | #358 of 527 | 27 | 18.7 | $437K | 50 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 40 | #270 of 387 | 10 | 6.9 | $1.2M | 46 | 3 |
| Electricians | 39 | #212 of 295 | 6 | 4.2 | $6.4M | 53 | 16 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 39 | #340 of 481 | 16 | 11.1 | $1.1M | 65 | 16 |
| Insurance agencies | 39 | #360 of 537 | 20 | 13.9 | $1.4M | 109 | 23 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 34 | #319 of 399 | 11 | 7.6 | $1.6M | 54 | 13 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 33 | #404 of 476 | 15 | 10.4 | $2.6M | 54 | 16 |
| Real estate | 33 | #476 of 536 | 40 | 27.8 | Index only | 115 | 26 |
| Home repair trades | 31 | #467 of 526 | 27 | 18.7 | $1.4M | 58 | 35 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 30 | #503 of 533 | 35 | 24.3 | Index only | 104 | 18 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $4.4M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | Index only | 170 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $3.9M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $6.7M | 374 | 5 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $5.9M | 236 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $27.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $27.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $17.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $20M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $17.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $20M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $12.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Detroit Lakes area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $17.7M | $1,231 | 129 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $44.9M | $3,118 | 120 |
| Food away from home | $54.6M | $3,789 | 93 |
| Groceries | $85.7M | $5,946 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $14M | $968 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.7M | $393 | 68 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $12.4M | $860 | 87 |
| Medical and dental services | $20M | $1,388 | 108 |
| Pets | $11.8M | $819 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $27.8M | $1,929 | 94 |
| Vehicle insurance | $27.3M | $1,893 | 97 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $38.3M | $2,661 | 88 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $17.4M | $1,208 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $198.6M | $13,783 | 83 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Detroit Lakes area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 35,497+0.9% since 2020
- Households
- 14,410
- Median age
- 43.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 1,315 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 27
- Median household income
- $71,388
- Average household income
- $100,022
- Median home value
- $291,000
- Jobs located here
- 13,787
- Daytime population
- 33,123Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Detroit Lakes area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Detroit Lakes area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Detroit Lakes area 1
- Becker County, MN35,343 people
Other markets based in Minnesota 12
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area3,713,668 people
- Duluth, MN-WI metro area280,870 people
- Rochester, MN metro area228,522 people
- St. Cloud, MN metro area202,458 people
- Mankato, MN metro area104,282 people
- Brainerd, MN area98,678 people
- Faribault-Northfield, MN area67,917 people
- Fergus Falls, MN area60,475 people
- Winona, MN area49,779 people
- Red Wing, MN area47,943 people
- Bemidji, MN area46,512 people
- Grand Rapids, MN area45,275 people
Questions
How fast is the Detroit Lakes, MN area growing?
Population estimates put the Detroit Lakes area at 35,497 people in 2025, up 0.9% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 14,410 households.
How much do households in the Detroit Lakes, MN area spend?
Households in the Detroit Lakes area spend about $198.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $85.7M on groceries and $54.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Detroit Lakes area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (68).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Detroit Lakes, MN area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Detroit Lakes area are for fast food and sandwich shops (86), restaurants and cafes (82) and car washes and detailers (79). The Detroit Lakes area ranks #9 of 537 scored small-town markets for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does the Detroit Lakes, MN area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Detroit Lakes area is $71,388 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $291,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Detroit Lakes area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet grooming and boarding businesses (92% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for fast food and sandwich shops (48% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 42 of the 56 business types have a score in the Detroit Lakes area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Detroit Lakes area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Minnesota · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Detroit Lakes area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Detroit Lakes area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.