Staples: Demographics & People
2,269 people call Staples home, in 1,002 households. Population shrank 3.8% from 2,359 (2022) to 2,269 (2024). Median age 42.1 years. (2.1y older than Wadena County; 4.6y older than Minnesota). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 92% White (non-Hispanic) and 5% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.12). 59% of households are family-led. County health: 40% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Minnesota avg 2.5).
- 41% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Minnesota 39%).
- 117 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Minnesota 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 3.8% from 2,359 (2022) to 2,269 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,183 (extrapolated at -1.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,071.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 25,262 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -3.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,359 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,269 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 2,269 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Population Estimate | 2,071 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 42.1y is 3.2 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 42.1 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 24.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,269 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 557 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 440.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 605.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 667 |
| Population under 18 | 557 |
| Median age | 42.1 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 2,269 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.12 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 2,258 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 156 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 12.1% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 93.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 5.4% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 92.5% (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). 0.6% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 0% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,777 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 471 |
| Share born in this state | 78.3% |
| Share born in another state | 21.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 20.8% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.6% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 18 |
| From Europe | 12 |
Households & Family Composition
1,002 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 59% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 606 families, 20% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 648 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 606 |
| Married couples with children | 124 |
| Single-parent households | 91 |
| Average household size | 2.29 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 9 |
| Family households | 593 households (vs Minnesota 8,466) |
| Households that are families | 59.2% (vs Minnesota 61.2%) |
| Total households | 1,002 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. 17.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.
| Moved within the county (past year) | 17.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 24,516 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 24,558 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -42 |
| 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 | 253 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 11.6% |
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. 109 residents live in group quarters (4.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 109 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 7 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 27153 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 27 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 153 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Todd |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 19.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 15.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 25.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 27153 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Todd County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 666 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 27153 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Todd County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 47.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 44.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 65.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 24,664 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 24.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,269, declining, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,269 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Town Summary · County | Todd County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade