Granite Falls: Demographics & People
2,685 people call Granite Falls home, in 1,239 households. Population grew 2.8% from 2,612 (2022) to 2,685 (2024). Median age 40.3 years. (1.8y younger than Yellow Medicine County; 2.8y older than Minnesota). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 76% White (non-Hispanic) and 13% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.24). 52% of households are family-led. County is losing 319 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Minnesota avg 2.5).
- 48% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Minnesota 39%).
- 75 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Minnesota 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 2.8% from 2,612 (2022) to 2,685 (2024) — about 4.7× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~2,760 (extrapolated at 1.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,862.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 12,598 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 2.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,612 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,685 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 2,685 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Population Estimate | 2,862 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.3y is 1.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.3 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 20.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,685 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 543 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 640.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 893.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 609 |
| Population under 18 | 543 |
| Median age | 40.3 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 2,685 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.24 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 2,081 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 50 |
| Asian residents | 6 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 271 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 24.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 86.4% |
| Black population | 2.5% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 12.6% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 75.8% (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). 1.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 2,021 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 496 |
| Share born in this state | 75.3% |
| Share born in another state | 24.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 18.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 5.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 26 |
| From Europe | 19 |
Households & Family Composition
1,239 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 52% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 639 families, 31% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 502 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 639 |
| Married couples with children | 196 |
| Single-parent households | 6 |
| Average household size | 2.06 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 13.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 45 |
| Family households | 645 households (vs Minnesota 8,466) |
| Households that are families | 52.1% (vs Minnesota 61.2%) |
| Total households | 1,239 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. 15.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 319 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 15.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 11,360 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 11,679 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -319 |
| 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 | 146 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.2% |
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. 129 residents live in group quarters (4.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 129 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 7 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 27023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 27 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Chippewa |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 22.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 15.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 29.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 27023 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Chippewa County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 505 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 27023 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Chippewa County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 59.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 55.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 66.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 11,800 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 20.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,685, growing, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,685 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Town Summary · County | Chippewa County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade