HomeMinnesotaMille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Mille Lacs County, Minnesota had an estimated 27,577 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 26,462, across 572 square miles. County output reached $1.16 bn in 2024, 742 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 44 7(a) approvals worth $18.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Mille Lacs County
How many people live in Mille Lacs County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202427,125
- Households10,672
- Average household size2.54
- Median household income$72,729
- Median age41.2
- Median gross rent$903 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$258,300
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over18,908
- Population under 186,279
- Share under 1823.1 percent
- Population 65 and over5,036
- Share 65 and over18.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6415,810
- Civilian labor force13,845
- Unemployment rate4.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.4 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties39th of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1573rd of 3,222
Mille Lacs County is the 39th largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.1 percent against 18.6 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Mille Lacs County
Is Mille Lacs County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202427,577
- Census 2020 base population26,462
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.21 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024159
- Births, 2024270
- Deaths, 2024338
- Natural change, 2024-68
- Net domestic migration, 2024230
- Net international migration, 20240
- Total net migration, 2024230
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,448
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents652nd of 3,144
The county has grown 4.21 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.
Mille Lacs County
Where are people moving to Mille Lacs County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving935
- People arriving, from those returns1,690
- Tax returns filed by households leaving825
- Net household movement110
- Adjusted gross income arriving$58.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$13.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$62,873
- Average income of a leaving household$54,640
- Largest single originSherburne County (183 households)
- Largest single destinationSherburne County (148 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherburne County | 183 | 366 | $12.3 m |
| Hennepin County | 89 | 141 | $6.4 m |
| Anoka County | 74 | 147 | $5.6 m |
| Stearns County | 62 | 92 | $2.9 m |
| Isanti County | 60 | 118 | $4.3 m |
| Benton County | 53 | 95 | $3.9 m |
| Kanabec County | 48 | 97 | $2.0 m |
| Wright County | 47 | 83 | $2.9 m |
Households arriving report $8,233 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Sherburne 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.
Mille Lacs County
What is the Mille Lacs County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.16 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.08 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.8 percent
- GDP change over five years38.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes48th of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1720th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$42,759
Output grew 7.8 percent in the latest year and 38.2 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.
Mille Lacs County
Employment by industry in Mille Lacs County
- Covered employment, annual average9,372
- Establishments reporting796
- Average annual pay$47,582
- Average weekly wage$915
- Retail trade, employment1,141
- Retail trade, average annual pay$29,038
- Accommodation and food services, employment781
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,764
- Manufacturing, employment723
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$52,445
- Construction, employment464
- Construction, average annual pay$66,709
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment271
- Other services, except public administration, employment242
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,141 | 96 | $29,038 |
| Accommodation and food services | 781 | 70 | $19,764 |
| Manufacturing | 723 | 42 | $52,445 |
| Construction | 464 | 120 | $66,709 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 271 | 33 | $84,554 |
| Other services, except public administration | 242 | 93 | $28,590 |
| Finance and insurance | 216 | 26 | $73,670 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 201 | 27 | $56,902 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,141 jobs, 12.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Mille Lacs County
How many businesses are in Mille Lacs County?
- Establishments, all industries742
- Employment at those establishments8,011
- Annual payroll$376.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.4
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.
Mille Lacs County
Building permits in Mille Lacs County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024162
- Declared construction value permitted$32.2 m
- Single family units authorized82
- Multifamily units authorized80
- Multifamily share of units49.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$198,582
- Units authorized per 1,000 households15.2
Multifamily is 49.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Mille Lacs County
SBA loans in Mille Lacs County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded44
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$18.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$416,911
- Median 7(a) approval$238,250
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$980,500
- Largest single approval$1,694,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)459
- Jobs per approval10.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals33
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter32
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals9.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Automotive Repair (5)
- Most active lenderThe First National Bank of Milaca (9)
- 504 approvals recorded26
- 504 gross approval dollars$15.2 m
- Average 504 approval$585,269
- Median 504 approval$535,500
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval11.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved19.8
- Most active CDCMidwest Business Finance Corporation (14)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$33.6 m
The average approval of $416,911 sits well above the median of $238,250, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 22.7 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.
Mille Lacs County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Mille Lacs County
Do SBA loans in Mille Lacs County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded14
- Paid in full14
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full14
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure25
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 14 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.
Mille Lacs County
SBA lending by place in Mille Lacs County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Princeton, approvals16
- Onamia, approvals10
- Milaca, approvals9
- Isle, approvals7
- Wahkon, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Princeton | 16 | $5,341,700 |
| Onamia | 10 | $5,827,900 |
| Milaca | 9 | $4,459,000 |
| Isle | 7 | $2,269,200 |
| Wahkon | 2 | $446,300 |
Princeton accounts for 16 approvals against 10 in Onamia. 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.
Mille Lacs County
How large is Mille Lacs County?
- Land area572 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties56th of 87
- Width, east to west18.3 mi
- Height, north to south47.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land47
- Establishments per square mile1.30
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.
Mille Lacs County
Flood risk in Mille Lacs County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Mille Lacs County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 270624
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate90.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Mille Lacs County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Mille Lacs County (community 270624), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Mille Lacs County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 90.0 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 Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202427,125
- Households10,672
- Average household size2.54
- Median household income$72,729
- Median age41.2
Common questions
Mille Lacs County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 27,577 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 27,125, in 10,672 households, ranking 39th of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Mille Lacs County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.21 percent since the 2020 census base of 26,462, to 27,577 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 270 births against 338 deaths, with net migration of 230. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Mille Lacs County?
$72,729. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $258,300, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $903 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Mille Lacs County?
742 establishments, employing 8,011 people with an annual payroll of $376.6 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 Mille Lacs County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,141 jobs, 12.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 9,372 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,582, or $915 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Mille Lacs County?
44 7(a) approvals totaling $18.3 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $238,250, plus 26 504 approvals worth $15.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Mille Lacs County?
162 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $32.2 m. Multifamily was 49.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Mille Lacs County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 Mille Lacs County come from?
The largest single origin is Sherburne County, with 183 households. Arriving households report an average income of $62,873 against $54,640 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs 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.
Mille Lacs County
Cities and places in Mille Lacs.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Mille Lacs County. All 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | city | 5,274 | 16 | 72.1 percent here, 27.9 percent Sherburne County |
| Milaca | city | 3,044 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Foreston | city | 757 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Onamia | city | 719 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Isle | city | 695 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Vineland | CDP | 674 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wahkon | city | 258 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Pease | city | 217 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bock | city | 49 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
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