The Duluth metro is home to 280,710 people (up 0.6% over five years), with a median household income of $71,067. Typical rent of $1,329/month works out to 22.4% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Duluth's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 28.9% |
| Retail trade | 11.8% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.7% |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% |
| Professional & management | 7.4% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.4% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Duluth market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,329/month suggests a household income around $53,000/year. The metro's median household income is $71,067.
By workforce share: Education & health care (28.9%), Retail trade (11.8%), Arts, food & hospitality (9.7%) (Census ACS 5-year).