St. Peter: Demographics & People

About 12,185 people live in St. Peter, in 4,059 households. Population grew 0.8% from 12,085 (2022) to 12,185 (2024). Median age 35.6 years. (2.7y younger than Nicollet County; 3.4y younger than Minnesota). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 80% White (non-Hispanic) and 8% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.30). 56% of households are family-led. County is losing 322 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 15% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 0.8% from 12,085 (2022) to 12,185 (2024) — about 1.4× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~12,286 (extrapolated at 0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 12,422.

Census data vintage2024
Population34,454 people
Annual growth rate · Population change0.8%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)12,085
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)12,185
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorystable
Population12,185 people
Population Estimate12,422

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 35.6y is 3.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age35.6 years (vs Minnesota 39.0y)
Age Summary · Children Pct17.2%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Population under 182,093
Median age35.6 years (vs Minnesota 39.0y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 12,185 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.30 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.

White residents9,728
Black residents880
Asian residents206
Hispanic or Latino residents954
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)30.4%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelsomewhat diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share82.7%
Asian population1.3%
Black population7.3%
Hispanic or Latino population8.1%
White (non-Hispanic) population79.5%

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (8)

(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Puerto Rican
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Polish
(unnamed)
American

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 6% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state8,575
Residents born in another state2,637
Share born in this state70.4%
Share born in another state29.6%
Native-born U.S. citizens21.6%
Foreign-born residents1.7%
Naturalized citizens6.2%
Total foreign-born residents776
From Europe113
From Africa108

Households & Family Composition

4,059 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 56% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,297 families, 32% are married couples with children.

Children under 182,048
Total families2,297
Married couples with children740
Single-parent households74
Average household size2.25
Women who gave birth (past year)9.0%
Grandparents living with grandchildren29
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren18
Family households2,257 households
Households that are families55.6%
Total households4,059 households

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 19.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 322 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)19.1%
Migration · People moving in (annual)33,161
Migration · People moving out (annual)33,483
Migration · Net migration (in − out)-322
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Disability

Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.

Residents with a disability1,174
Disability rate9.9%

Group Quarters

Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 3,047 residents live in group quarters (25.0% of population).

Living in group quarters3,047

Other

Congressional District · District1
Congressional District · FormattedMN-01
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips27,103
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips27
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips103
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyNicollet
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate4.9%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci3.50
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci6.60
Cdc Mortality · Fips27,103
Cdc Mortality · CountyNicollet County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralSmall metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023761
Cdc Vaccination · Fips27,103
Cdc Vaccination · CountyNicollet County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct68.7%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct64.9%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct66.2%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 201934,274
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score3.00
Family Score · Schools4
Family Score · Children Pct17.2%
Family Score · Ratinglimited
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 12,185, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed
Town Summary · Population12,185 people
Town Summary · CountyNicollet County

Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade