According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,451 people, 1,528 households, and 950 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,650.8 people per square mile (637.5/km²). There were 1,624 housing units at an average density of 776.9/sq mi (300.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.16% White, 0.17% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 1,528 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,676, and the median income for a family was $39,856. Males had a median income of $31,488 versus $22,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,366. About 5.5% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Carpenter | McIntire | Mitchell | Orchard | Osage | Riceville‡ | St. Ansgar | Stacyville

Little Cedar | Toeterville

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties