Northfield: Demographics & People
Census counts 20,742 people in Northfield, in 6,380 households. Population grew 0.3% from 20,678 (2022) to 20,742 (2024). Median age 28.2 years. (8.9y younger than Rice County; 9.3y younger than Minnesota). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 77% White (non-Hispanic) and 13% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.32). 62% of households are family-led. County is gaining 4,758 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 11% smoke.
- 3.3 people per household (vs Minnesota avg 2.5).
- 38% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Minnesota 39%).
- 50 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Minnesota 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.3% from 20,678 (2022) to 20,742 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~20,806 (extrapolated at 0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 20,892.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 439,882 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 20,678 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 20,742 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 20,742 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Population Estimate | 20,892 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 28.2y is 10.7 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 age | 28.2 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 17.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 20,742 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 3,574 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 7,924.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 5,891.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 3,353 |
| Population under 18 | 3,574 |
| Median age | 28.2 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 20,742 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.32 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 16,425 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 409 |
| Asian residents | 873 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,553 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 32.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 81.1% |
| Asian population | 4.4% (vs Minnesota 5.3%) |
| Black population | 2.1% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 13.2% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 76.6% (vs Minnesota 73.6%) |
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)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 3.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 9% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 11,074 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 7,198 |
| Share born in this state | 53.4% |
| Share born in another state | 46.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 34.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 8.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,512 |
| From Europe | 179 |
| From Asia | 16 |
| From Africa | 471 |
Households & Family Composition
6,380 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 62% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,031 families, 35% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 3,542 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,031 |
| Married couples with children | 1,411 |
| Single-parent households | 140 |
| Average household size | 2.38 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 8.3% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 138 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 63 |
| Family households | 3,959 households (vs Minnesota 8,466) |
| Households that are families | 62.1% (vs Minnesota 61.2%) |
| Total households | 6,380 households (vs Minnesota 11,928) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 22.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 4,758 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 22.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 452,188 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 447,430 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 4,758 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
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 disability | 821 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.1% |
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. 5,482 residents live in group quarters (26.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 5,482 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 27037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 27 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Dakota |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 6.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 7.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 27037 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Dakota County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 8,506 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 27037 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Dakota County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 78.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 73.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 68.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 429,021 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 9.80 |
| Family Score · Schools | 13 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 6 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 17.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 20,742, stable, young community, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 20,742 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Town Summary · County | Dakota County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade