Detroit Lakes receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Detroit Lakes
Grand Rapids
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 36%
vs31 · Bottom 7%
Growth
64 · Top 26%
vs81 · Top 4%
Climate
45 · Bottom 1%
vs45 · Bottom 1%
Physical resilience
87 · Top 14%
vs82 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
86 · Top 41%
vs86 · Top 39%
Schools
44 · Bottom 40%
vs47 · Bottom 43%
Access
67 · Bottom 10%
vs53 · Bottom 5%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 17%
vs39 · Bottom 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Detroit Lakes | Grand Rapids | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,025 | 11,207 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,958 | $61,029 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,289 | $33,189 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 847/sq mi | 501/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $265,800 | $213,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $954 | $1,090 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.1% | 62.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 6.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.8% | 28.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 15.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 49 | 184 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.9 | 16.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 58.1% | 2200.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | -4°F | -1°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.5" | 29.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 46 mi | 69 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 16.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.6 | 44.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.26 | 17.75 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 46.1% | 47.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 47.9% | 52.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 37.0% | 42.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Detroit Lakes
Elevated or high exposure: winter weather, tornado, strong wind.
Grand Rapids
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Detroit Lakes
60
Your Score
62
Area Score
Grand Rapids
58
Your Score
59
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Detroit Lakes, MN · Grand Rapids, MN · How this is calculated: methodology