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Ely, MN
City in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Population
3,240
Land area
2.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,108
ZIP codes
0
Ely and its ZIP codes
Ely at a glance
- Ely is about 15 times as dense as Minnesota as a whole.
- The median household income is $43,901, 51% below the Minnesota median of $89,062.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $157,300 (52% below Minnesota) and median rent is $627 a month.
Local data for Ely, MN
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Ely, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$43,901
Poverty rate
13.9%
Median home value
$157,300
Median rent
$627/mo
Homeownership
63.4%
Bachelor's or higher
31.6%
Median age
52.1
Average commute
14.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (811), Norwegian Americans (374), Irish Americans (246).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for St. Louis County. PPP loans are for Ely.
Unemployment rate
5.4%
Aug 2026, +0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$62,615
95,078 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$61,867
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.68B
FY 2026, $13,363 per person
How people get to work
Ely, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone56.0%
- Carpooled13.5%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked20.4%
- Bicycle2.9%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home6.3%
Average one-way commute: 14.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ely, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
2,085
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
290
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
77° / -4°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ely, MN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.9%
U.S. 33.3% +2.6 pts
Diabetes
12.7%
U.S. 12.1% +0.6 pts
Smoking
15.7%
U.S. 12.8% +2.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.2%
U.S. 11.1% -3.9 pts
Cities near Ely
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WintonCity | 3 mi | 0.1 |
| SoudanCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 0.7 |
| BabbittCity | 20 mi | 106 |
| TowerCity | 21 mi | 2.9 |
| Hoyt LakesCity | 27 mi | 55.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Ely, MN in?
- Ely is in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
- What is the population of Ely, MN?
- About 3,240 people live in Ely, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Ely?
- Nearby places include Winton (3 mi), Soudan (19 mi), Babbitt (20 mi), Tower (21 mi), Hoyt Lakes (27 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023