Detroit Lakes

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Detroit Lakes, MN

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A secluded resort community bursting with small-town charm

Rural Small Town Lake Tourism Outdoors Nature

Detroit Lakes is a small and secluded city in northwestern Minnesota, about 45 miles due east of Fargo. Built on the north shore of its namesake lake with numerous other lakes and nature preserves all around, the city is a popular resort destination, with the summer months seeing the population nearly double thanks to seasonal residents and tourists.

Locals enjoy terrific access to outdoor recreation opportunities year-round, from biking, boating, and swimming in the summer to skiing and snowboarding at Maplelag Resort in the winter. The Downtown district around the intersection of Holmes Street and Washington Avenue hosts a thriving collective of specialty shops and restaurants, including the popular Washington Square Mall and the local favorite Lake Country Bakery.

Rent Trends

As of April 2025, the average apartment rent in Detroit Lakes, MN is $822 for a studio, $794 for one bedroom, $1,023 for two bedrooms, and $1,169 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Detroit Lakes has increased by 0.8% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$794/month
653 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Detroit Lakes, MN

Transportation

36

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

46

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Roosevelt Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

579 Students

6
out of 10

Rossman Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

573 Students

6
out of 10

Detroit Lakes Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

596 Students

4
out of 10

Detroit Lakes Senior High

Public

Grades 9-12

865 Students

6
out of 10

Points of Interest

Shopping Centers

Parks and Recreation

  • Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge
  • Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District

Top Apartments in Detroit Lakes

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.