Blooming Prairie: Demographics & People
About 1,843 people live in Blooming Prairie, in 805 households. Population shrank 6.8% from 1,977 (2022) to 1,843 (2024). Median age 44.2 years. (3.7y older than Steele County; 6.7y older than Minnesota). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 82% White (non-Hispanic) and 16% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.23). 53% of households are family-led. County is losing 353 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 13% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Minnesota avg 2.5).
- 47% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Minnesota 39%).
- 112 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Minnesota 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 6.8% from 1,977 (2022) to 1,843 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,720 (extrapolated at -3.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,564.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 20,867 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -6.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,977 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,843 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 1,843 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Population Estimate | 1,564 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 44.2y is 5.3 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 44.2 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 22.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,843 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 417 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 371.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 499.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 556 |
| Population under 18 | 417 |
| Median age | 44.2 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 1,843 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.23 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 1,711 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 262 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 23.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 86.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 16.2% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 81.9% (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 (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 1,337 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 444 |
| Share born in this state | 72.5% |
| Share born in another state | 27.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 24.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 60 |
Households & Family Composition
805 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 53% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 470 families, 29% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 512 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 470 |
| Married couples with children | 137 |
| Single-parent households | 15 |
| Average household size | 2.34 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 4 |
| Family households | 425 households (vs Minnesota 8,466) |
| Households that are families | 52.8% (vs Minnesota 61.2%) |
| Total households | 805 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. 10.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 353 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 21,523 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 21,876 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -353 |
| 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 | 130 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.3% |
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. 54 residents live in group quarters (2.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 54 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 27039 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 27 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 039 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Dodge |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 5.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 11.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 27039 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Dodge County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 351 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 27039 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Dodge County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 65.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 62.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 62.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 20,934 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 22.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,843, shrinking, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,843 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Town Summary · County | Dodge County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade