Becker County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Becker County, Minnesota had an estimated 35,444 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 35,182, across 1,315 square miles. County output reached $2.06 bn in 2024, 956 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 44 7(a) approvals worth $9.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Becker County
How many people live in Becker County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202435,343
- Households14,410
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$71,388
- Median age43.5
- Median gross rent$920 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$291,000
- Home value to household income4.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher28.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over24,568
- Population under 188,231
- Share under 1823.3 percent
- Population 65 and over8,051
- Share 65 and over22.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6419,061
- Civilian labor force17,163
- Unemployment rate4.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.3 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties31st of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1335th of 3,222
Becker County is the 31st largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 4.1 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.3 percent against 22.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Becker County
Is Becker County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202435,444
- Census 2020 base population35,182
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.74 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024114
- Births, 2024318
- Deaths, 2024376
- Natural change, 2024-58
- Net domestic migration, 2024151
- Net international migration, 202423
- Total net migration, 2024174
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024411
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1576th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.74 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Becker County
Where are people moving to Becker County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving892
- People arriving, from those returns1,534
- Tax returns filed by households leaving872
- Net household movement20
- Adjusted gross income arriving$59.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-13.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$67,117
- Average income of a leaving household$84,358
- Largest single originCass County (136 households)
- Largest single destinationCass County (120 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 136 | 229 | $12.7 m |
| Clay County | 111 | 178 | $7.5 m |
| Otter Tail County | 105 | 182 | $6.6 m |
| Hubbard County | 41 | 86 | $2.6 m |
| Hennepin County | 31 | 46 | $2.3 m |
| Mahnomen County | 31 | 72 | $1.6 m |
| Wadena County | 26 | 67 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $17,241 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Cass County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Becker County
What is the Becker County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.06 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.93 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.5 percent
- GDP change over five years39.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes31st of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1253rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$58,232
Output grew 6.5 percent in the latest year and 39.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Becker County
Employment by industry in Becker County
- Covered employment, annual average15,120
- Establishments reporting1,140
- Average annual pay$53,242
- Average weekly wage$1,024
- Manufacturing, employment2,428
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$58,229
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,122
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,163
- Retail trade, employment1,887
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,065
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,471
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,159
- Construction, employment822
- Transportation and warehousing, employment498
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,428 | 53 | $58,229 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,122 | 95 | $66,163 |
| Retail trade | 1,887 | 140 | $36,065 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,471 | 96 | $22,159 |
| Construction | 822 | 183 | $71,344 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 498 | 55 | $50,789 |
| Other services, except public administration | 450 | 109 | $34,441 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 391 | 62 | $77,011 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,428 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Becker County
How many businesses are in Becker County?
- Establishments, all industries956
- Employment at those establishments10,874
- Annual payroll$585.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Becker County
Building permits in Becker County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024151
- Declared construction value permitted$63.2 m
- Single family units authorized151
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$418,219
- Units authorized per 1,000 households10.5
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Becker County
SBA loans in Becker County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded44
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$9.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$211,527
- Median 7(a) approval$134,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$441,000
- Largest single approval$1,781,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)313
- Jobs per approval7.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active21
- Distinct industries receiving approvals27
- Median 7(a) term84 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter37
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals11.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (4)
- Most active lenderMidwest Bank (12)
- 504 approvals recorded23
- 504 gross approval dollars$13.5 m
- Average 504 approval$587,391
- Median 504 approval$431,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval6.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.1
- Most active CDCMidwest Business Finance Corporation (18)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$22.8 m
The average approval of $211,527 sits well above the median of $134,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Becker County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Becker County
Do SBA loans in Becker County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded15
- Paid in full14
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full14
- Status: Exempt from disclosure22
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
- Status: Charged off1
Only 15 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Becker County
SBA lending by place in Becker County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Detroit Lakes, approvals24
- Audubon, approvals6
- Lake Park, approvals4
- Frazee, approvals4
- Pelican Rapids, approvals3
- Menahga, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lakes | 24 | $5,633,500 |
| Audubon | 6 | $1,411,800 |
| Lake Park | 4 | $1,081,300 |
| Frazee | 4 | $289,800 |
| Pelican Rapids | 3 | $500,000 |
| Menahga | 2 | $235,800 |
| Park Rapids | 1 | $155,000 |
Detroit Lakes accounts for 24 approvals against 6 in Audubon. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Becker County
How large is Becker County?
- Land area1,315 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties15th of 87
- Width, east to west48.7 mi
- Height, north to south30.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land27
- Establishments per square mile0.73
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Becker County
Flood risk in Becker County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Becker County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 270639
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate66.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Becker County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Becker County (community 270639), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Becker County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 66.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Becker County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Becker County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202435,343
- Households14,410
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$71,388
- Median age43.5
Common questions
Becker County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Becker County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 35,444 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 35,343, in 14,410 households, ranking 31st of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Becker County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.74 percent since the 2020 census base of 35,182, to 35,444 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 318 births against 376 deaths, with net migration of 174. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Becker County?
$71,388. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $291,000, which is 4.1 times income, and median gross rent is $920 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Becker County?
956 establishments, employing 10,874 people with an annual payroll of $585.8 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Becker County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,428 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 15,120 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,242, or $1,024 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Becker County?
44 7(a) approvals totaling $9.3 m since FY2020, across 21 lenders, with a median approval of $134,000, plus 23 504 approvals worth $13.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Becker County?
151 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $63.2 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Becker County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Becker County come from?
The largest single origin is Cass County, with 136 households. Arriving households report an average income of $67,117 against $84,358 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Becker County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Becker County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Becker County
Cities and places in Becker.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Becker County. All 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lakes | city | 10,025 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Frazee | city | 1,647 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Park | city | 600 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| White Earth | CDP | 506 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Audubon | city | 388 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Osage | CDP | 290 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ogema | city | 257 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pine Point | CDP | 241 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Callaway | city | 224 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Elbow Lake | CDP | 76 | None recorded | 97.1 percent here, 2.9 percent Clearwater County |
| Wolf Lake | city | 73 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 6 of the county's 44 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Becker County, the largest being Pelican Rapids (3), Menahga (2), Park Rapids (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.