Clearwater: Demographics & People
Clearwater is home to 1,970 people, in 784 households. Population grew 3.5% from 1,904 (2022) to 1,970 (2024). Median age 31.1 years. (6.5y younger than Wright County; 6.4y younger than Minnesota). Children under 18 are 28% of the population. Population is 93% White (non-Hispanic) and 1% Asian. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.03). 59% of households are family-led. County is losing 1,507 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs Minnesota avg 2.5).
- 41% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Minnesota 39%).
- 69 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Minnesota 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 3.5% from 1,904 (2022) to 1,970 (2024) — about 5.8× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~2,038 (extrapolated at 1.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,133.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 158,292 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 3.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,904 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,970 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 1,970 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Population Estimate | 2,133 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 31.1y is 7.8 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 28% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 31.1 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 28.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,970 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 561 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 569.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 600.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 240 |
| Population under 18 | 561 |
| Median age | 31.1 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 1,970 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.03 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,780 |
|---|---|
| Asian residents | 19 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 6 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 2.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 98.6% |
| Asian population | 1.0% (vs Minnesota 5.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 0.2% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 93.0% (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). 1.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,619 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 282 |
| Share born in this state | 82.2% |
| Share born in another state | 17.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 14.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 27 |
| From Africa | 27 |
Households & Family Composition
784 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 59% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 457 families, 34% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 537 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 457 |
| Married couples with children | 154 |
| Single-parent households | 30 |
| Average household size | 2.53 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 10 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 5 |
| Family households | 461 households (vs Minnesota 8,466) |
| Households that are families | 58.8% (vs Minnesota 61.2%) |
| Total households | 784 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. 13.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 1,507 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 13.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 154,040 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 155,547 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -1,507 |
| 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 | 107 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.2% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | MN-06 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 27145 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 27 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 145 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Stearns |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 7.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 9.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 27145 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Stearns County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 6,490 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 27145 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Stearns County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 66.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 61.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 56.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 161,075 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 28.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,970, growing, young professional, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,970 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Town Summary · County | Stearns County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade