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City · 10,025 residents · Becker County, Minnesota

Detroit Lakes , Minnesota

In Detroit Lakes, a typical home is worth $265,800 and typical rent is $954 a month. Compared with all of Becker County, typical household income is 12% lower, the typical home value is 9% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 21 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $265,800

    9% below the county

    19% below Minnesota

    • Detroit Lakes
    • Becker
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $954a month

    4% above the county

    25% below Minnesota

    • Detroit Lakes
    • Becker
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $62,958a year

    12% below the county

    29% below Minnesota

    • Detroit Lakes
    • Becker
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    56%

    21 points below the county

    16 points below Minnesota

    • Detroit Lakes
    • Becker
    • Minnesota

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$372,324
3.4% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Detroit Lakes is in Becker County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Becker County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Detroit Lakes apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 56% of households in Detroit Lakes own their home, against 77% in Becker County.

  2. Nearby, in Crookston, the typical home value is $185,600: 30% less than in Detroit Lakes ($265,800).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Detroit Lakes

What homes there are in Detroit Lakes, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Detroit Lakes, but it weighs less than in Becker County: 61% against 79%.

Year built

By age, homes in Detroit Lakes look like those in Becker County: the typical year built is 1979.

There are fewer big homes in Detroit Lakes than in Becker County: 53% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 63%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 84% of owner-occupied homes in Detroit Lakes are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Becker County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

About 63% of rented homes in Detroit Lakes cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Becker County ($1,105); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,636 a month

Becker County: $1,691 a month

Without a mortgage

$591 a month

Becker County: $580 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Becker County: 56%

Owning costs about the same in Detroit Lakes as in Becker County: with a mortgage, $1,636 a month; without one, $591.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Detroit Lakes rose 40%; in Becker County, it rose 47%.

The typical rent in Detroit Lakes rose 29% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Becker County (26%).

To compare: typical income in Detroit Lakes rose 28%; the home, +40%; the rent, +29%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureDetroit LakesBecker CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.6%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.162.422.432.53
Drive alone 78%75%69%69%
Carpool 10%10%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 7%11%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Detroit Lakes are smaller: 2.16 people on average; in Becker County, 2.42.

In Detroit Lakes, 78% of workers drive alone to work; in Becker County, 75%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Detroit Lakes?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Detroit Lakes, worth $265,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 42% of the typical household income in Detroit Lakes, which is $62,958 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $94,005 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Becker County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Detroit Lakes. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,303 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,193

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$260,986
Total interest
$375,497
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,489 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,469 a month

  • Tight

    $1,469 to $1,889 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,889 a month

    Your payment · 42%

Compared with the typical household income in Detroit Lakes ($62,958 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,193
Principal & interest$1,768
Property tax$197
Home insurance$111
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$118

You need at least $9,303 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Detroit Lakes and Becker County

Detroit Lakes is in Becker County, Minnesota. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Detroit Lakes's own numbers

Typical home value
$265,800
Typical monthly rent
$954
Typical yearly household income
$62,958
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
0.89%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Becker County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,105
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+47%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Becker County.

Everything about Becker County

Buying

Buying a home in Detroit Lakes

A typical home in Detroit Lakes is worth $265,800: 9% below the county and 19% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in Detroit Lakes ($62,958 a year), a typical home costs 4.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Detroit Lakes 4.2 years
  • Becker 4.1 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Becker County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Becker County rose 78% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Becker County.

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.8% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +47% +37% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +78% +71% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Detroit Lakes next to Becker County, Minnesota and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Detroit Lakes $265,800
  • Becker $291,000
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Detroit Lakes $954
  • Becker $920
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Detroit Lakes $62,958
  • Becker $71,388
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Detroit Lakes next to Becker County and Minnesota
Measure Detroit Lakes Becker County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $265,800 $291,000 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $954 $920 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $62,958 $71,388 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 56% 77% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,359 $2,014 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.89% 0.69% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 48% 46% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Becker County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Detroit Lakes

For a typical $265,800 home in Detroit Lakes, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Detroit Lakes's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,193a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,303
    Cash to close
    $17,277
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $118

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,145a month

    Down payment
    $13,290
    Cash to close
    $21,264
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $126

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,748a month

    Down payment
    $53,160
    Cash to close
    $61,134
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,994a month

    Down payment
    $39,870
    Cash to close
    $47,844
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Detroit Lakes and for Becker County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Detroit Lakes

0.89%of the home’s value each year

$2,359 a year for the typical owner in Detroit Lakes.

  • Detroit Lakes 0.89%
  • Becker 0.69%
  • Minnesota 1.02%

What Minnesota publishes Homestead market value exclusion (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Minnesota

Flood risk in Becker County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Becker County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Becker County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Detroit Lakes

Typical rent in Detroit Lakes is $954 a month: 4% above the county. In Detroit Lakes, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Becker County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,105 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.25 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Becker County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $769 $14.79 $30,760
1 bedroom $845 $16.25 $33,800
2 bedrooms $1,105 $21.25 $44,200
3 bedrooms $1,451 $27.90 $58,040
4 bedrooms $1,621 $31.17 $64,840

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Detroit Lakes

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Detroit Lakes is in ZIP code 56501.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,150: $45 more than the fair market rent for Becker County ($1,105).

  • 56501 $1,150$1,510

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Detroit Lakes when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Detroit Lakes

HUD lists 11 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Detroit Lakes. These are the largest.

  • Park Manor Estates Multiple Building Addresses, Detroit Lakes 56501 97 low-income homes · 1 bd: 84 · 2 bd: 13 · In service since 2013 · For older adults, families
  • Park Manor Estates 1035 Roosevelt Ave, Detroit Lakes 56501 97 low-income homes · For older adults (218) 847-2636
  • Pleasant View/Scattered 1111 Washington Ave, Detroit Lakes 56501 91 low-income homes · Run by Hra of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota · Average payment: $439 a month · Average wait: 12 months · Homes at several sites (218) 847-7859
  • Lamplighter Manor 1425 Madison Ave, Detroit Lakes 56501 65 homes, 58 low-income · For older adults (218) 847-7768
  • Apex Townhomes 1401 Apex Ct, Detroit Lakes 56501 30 low-income homes · 2 bd: 2 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2019 · For people with disabilities

See all 20 buildings in Becker County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Detroit Lakes

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Becker County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Detroit Lakes

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Detroit Lakes or Becker County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in Detroit Lakes the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Minnesota

  • Deferred Payment Loan (Start Up)

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota state agency loan for the down payment and closing costs alongside the Start Up mortgage for first-time buyers: up to $14,000 (or $18,000 in the Plus version), with no interest or monthly payments, repaid at the end of the mortgage. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Monthly Payment Loan

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota Housing loan of up to $14,000 for the down payment and closing costs, which you repay over 15 years at the same rate as your Minnesota Housing mortgage; it works with Start Up (first-time buyers) or Step Up. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Detroit Lakes

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Detroit Lakes, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • White Earth Investment Initiative

    103 Graystone Plz, Detroit Lakes · 1 miles away

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (218) 844-7029

  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

    716 E Street, Brainerd · 85 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (888) 577-2227

  • Kootasca Community Action, Inc.

    822 NE 5th Ave, Grand Rapids · 114 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    218-999-0800x0828

Every agency in Becker County All counseling agencies in Minnesota

Help in Spanish near Detroit Lakes

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Detroit Lakes

HUD’s record names them for Detroit Lakes or Becker County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Hra of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (218) 847-7859
  • Becker County Economic Development Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (218) 847-5641

All housing agencies in Minnesota Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Detroit Lakes, with the typical home value.

Everything about Becker County Housing in Minnesota

Neighboring counties

If Becker County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Detroit Lakes.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Detroit Lakes

Short answers with the numbers for Detroit Lakes and all of Becker County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Detroit Lakes?

The typical home value in Detroit Lakes is $265,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Becker County it is $291,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Detroit Lakes?

Typical rent in Detroit Lakes is $954 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Becker County is $1,105.

What is the FHA loan limit in Detroit Lakes?

Detroit Lakes uses the FHA limit for all of Becker County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Detroit Lakes?

The typical homeowner in Detroit Lakes pays $2,359 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.89% of the home’s value; in Becker County, the rate is 0.69%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Detroit Lakes?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Becker County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).