Population grows to 3.16 million, according to 2020 Census
The Twin Cities region’s population gained 314,000 residents over the last decade, bringing the total population to 3.16 million in 2020, according to decennial U.S. census counts released August 12. Significant growth occurred in both urban center cities and suburban edge cities.
Not only has the seven-county area grown since 2010, it continues to transform: the share of residents who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) now stands at 31%, up from 24% in 2010.
Higher growth rate driven by new residents
Between 2010 and 2020, the region’s population grew by 314,000 people, compared with population growth during the previous decade of 208,000. This represents an 11% growth rate compared to 8% in the 2000s.
This higher growth rate is the result of more people moving to the Twin Cities region. Metropolitan Council demographers estimate the region gained 116,000 residents from migration during the 2010s, compared with a net loss of -26,000 during the 2000s. (These numbers include both international and domestic movers.) This churn of migration contributes to the growing racial diversity of the region.
Growing racial and ethnic diversity
Diversity by race and ethnicity has grown throughout the region. 46 jurisdictions now have populations where at least one-quarter of residents identify as BIPOC. 6 communities are majority BIPOC (Saint Paul, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Hilltop, Landfall, and Jackson Township).
Medium and large communities (5,000+) with the highest shares of White, non-Latino residents
|
| |
Community |
Total population |
White, non-Latino population |
% White, non-Latino |
| 1 |
Credit River |
5,493 |
5,075 |
92.4% |
| 2 |
Orono |
8,315 |
7,651 |
92.0% |
| 3 |
New Prague |
8,162 |
7,484 |
91.7% |
| 4 |
Linwood Township |
5,334 |
4,866 |
91.2% |
| 5 |
Minnetrista |
8,262 |
7,536 |
91.2% |
Medium and large communities with the highest shares of Black, non-Latino residents
|
| |
Community |
Total population |
Black, non-Latino population |
% Black, non-Latino |
| 1 |
Brooklyn Park |
86,478 |
25,228 |
29.2% |
| 2 |
Brooklyn Center |
33,782 |
9,340 |
27.6% |
| 3 |
New Hope |
21,986 |
4,818 |
21.9% |
| 4 |
Columbia Heights |
21,973 |
4,707 |
21.4% |
| 5 |
Minneapolis |
429,954 |
81,088 |
18.9% |
Medium and large communities with the highest shares of Asian, non-Latino residents
|
| |
Community |
Total population |
Asian, non-Latino population |
% Asian, non-Latino |
| 1 |
Saint Paul |
311,527 |
59,755 |
19.2% |
| 2 |
Maplewood |
42,088 |
8,006 |
19.0% |
| 3 |
Brooklyn Center |
33,782 |
6,401 |
18.9% |
| 4 |
Brooklyn Park |
86,478 |
16,261 |
18.8% |
| 5 |
Little Canada |
10,819 |
1,726 |
16.0% |
Medium and large communities with the highest shares of Hispanic or Latino residents
|
| |
Community |
Total population |
Hispanic or Latino population |
% Hispanic or Latino |
| 1 |
West St. Paul |
20,615 |
4,171 |
20.2% |
| 2 |
Richfield |
36,994 |
6,821 |
18.4% |
| 3 |
South St. Paul |
20,759 |
3,219 |
15.5% |
| 4 |
Columbia Heights |
21,973 |
3,246 |
14.8% |
| 5 |
Brooklyn Center |
33,782 |
4,674 |
13.8% |
Medium and large communities with the highest shares of Indigenous, non-Latino residents
|
| |
Community |
Total population |
Indigenous, non-Latino population |
% Indigenous, non-Latino |
| 1 |
Prior Lake |
27,617 |
543 |
2.0% |
| 2 |
Shakopee |
43,698 |
551 |
1.3% |
| 3 |
Minneapolis |
429,954 |
5,184 |
1.2% |
| 4 |
Columbia Heights |
21,973 |
259 |
1.2% |
| 5 |
Fridley |
29,590 |
225 |
0.8% |
Medium and large communities with the highest shares of residents identifying more than one race
|
| |
Community |
Total population |
Multiracial population |
% Multiracial |
| 1 |
Robbinsdale |
14,646 |
975 |
6.7% |
| 2 |
St. Paul Park |
5,544 |
321 |
5.8% |
| 3 |
Crystal |
23,330 |
1,332 |
5.7% |
| 4 |
Brooklyn Center |
33,782 |
1,848 |
5.5% |
| 5 |
Anoka |
17,921 |
972 |
5.4% |
Local dynamics of population growth
In contrast to previous decades, population growth between 2010 and 2020 occurred across the region. The list of cities that added the most population includes different kinds of communities:
-
Minneapolis and Saint Paul, whose populations dropped slightly between 2000 and 2010, accounted for nearly one-quarter of the region’s total population growth in the last decade by themselves.
-
Outer-ring suburban communities like Lakeville, Woodbury, and Blaine grew dramatically, with growth rates exceeding 20%.
-
Older, more established suburbs like Brooklyn Park and Bloomington added thousands of people as well.
Growth-leading communities in the Twin Cities region
|
| City |
2010 Population |
2020 Population |
Population added 2010-2020 |
Percent growth, 2010-2020 |
| Minneapolis |
382,578 |
429,954 |
47,376 |
12.4% |
| Saint Paul |
285,068 |
311,527 |
26,459 |
9.3% |
| Lakeville |
55,954 |
69,490 |
13,536 |
24.2% |
| Woodbury |
61,961 |
75,102 |
13,141 |
21.2% |
| Blaine |
57,186 |
70,222 |
13,036 |
22.8% |
| Brooklyn Park |
75,781 |
86,478 |
10,697 |
14.1% |
| Plymouth |
70,576 |
81,026 |
10,450 |
14.8% |
| Maple Grove |
61,567 |
70,253 |
8,686 |
14.1% |
| Apple Valley |
49,084 |
56,374 |
7,290 |
14.9% |
| Bloomington |
82,893 |
89,987 |
7,094 |
8.6% |
| Twin Cities region total |
2,849,567 |
3,163,104 |
313,537 |
11.0% |
2020 Census data in context
The data published on Thursday are known as redistricting files, for use in drawing new political district boundaries. This is the first release of locally specific data from the 2020 Census. The 2020 enumeration counted 5.7 million people living in Minnesota as of April 1, 2020. Over 55% of Minnesota’s population, 3.16 million people, lives in the Twin Cities seven-county region. The Twin Cities region accounted for 78% of Minnesota’s population growth between 2010 and 2020.
Local population and housing counts are available for all levels of geography: cities and towns, as well as Census tracts and block groups.
Our Community Profiles are updated to include new Census 2020 data for cities, townships, and counties. Our Census 2020 page has additional information, including an interactive visualization allowing users to examine change from 1990 to 2020.
For more information, contact the Community Development research staff at [email protected].