The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota With Mild Winters

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 165 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Minnesota, scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Caledonia, MN.

1. 15Plainview, Minnesota

   Retirement: 75th percentile · January average low (°F): 68th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 69th percentile

   3,483 people · Wabasha County · median home $245,300 · income $82,926 · Jan low 4°F · 48 in snow

2. 14Zumbrota, Minnesota

   Retirement: 85th percentile · January average low (°F): 66th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

   3,726 people · Goodhue County · median home $249,300 · income $78,156 · Jan low 4°F · 44 in snow

3. 13Eagle Lake, Minnesota

   Retirement: 57th percentile · January average low (°F): 83rd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 74th percentile

   3,278 people · Blue Earth County · median home $276,500 · income $96,964 · Jan low 6°F · 39 in snow

4. 12Chatfield, Minnesota

   Retirement: 65th percentile · January average low (°F): 66th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 84th percentile

   2,997 people · Fillmore County · median home $241,600 · income $96,078 · Jan low 4°F · 48 in snow

5. 11Goodview, Minnesota

   Retirement: 76th percentile · January average low (°F): 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 50th percentile

   4,158 people · Winona County · median home $254,200 · income $74,712 · Jan low 8°F · 38 in snow

6. 10Arden Hills, Minnesota

   Retirement: 74th percentile · January average low (°F): 95th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 55th percentile

   9,939 people · Ramsey County · median home $441,900 · income $134,118 · Jan low 8°F · 40 in snow

7. 9Two Harbors, Minnesota

   Retirement: 77th percentile · January average low (°F): 91st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

   3,633 people · Lake County · median home $206,800 · income $65,625 · Jan low 7°F · 61 in snow

8. 8Luverne, Minnesota

   Retirement: 81st percentile · January average low (°F): 87th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

   4,946 people · Rock County · median home $208,000 · income $64,366 · Jan low 6°F · 39 in snow

9. 7Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

   Retirement: 57th percentile · January average low (°F): 88th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

   3,452 people · Brown County · median home $147,600 · income $66,911 · Jan low 7°F · 41 in snow

10. 6Pipestone, Minnesota

    Retirement: 72nd percentile · January average low (°F): 70th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 98th percentile

    4,215 people · Pipestone County · median home $114,100 · income $67,568 · Jan low 5°F · 40 in snow

11. 5Jackson, Minnesota

    Retirement: 77th percentile · January average low (°F): 70th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 97th percentile

    3,323 people · Jackson County · median home $128,500 · income $70,223 · Jan low 5°F · 45 in snow

12. 4La Crescent, Minnesota

    Retirement: 82nd percentile · January average low (°F): 100th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

    5,276 people · Houston County · median home $272,400 · income $85,368 · Jan low 12°F · 38 in snow

13. 3Blue Earth, Minnesota

    Retirement: 79th percentile · January average low (°F): 81st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

    3,174 people · Faribault County · median home $143,600 · income $66,771 · Jan low 6°F · 47 in snow

14. 2Windom, Minnesota

    Retirement: 77th percentile · January average low (°F): 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 89th percentile

    4,798 people · Cottonwood County · median home $169,700 · income $74,899 · Jan low 8°F · 44 in snow

15. 1Caledonia, Minnesota

    Retirement: 87th percentile · January average low (°F): 92nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 92nd percentile

    2,847 people · Houston County · median home $157,900 · income $76,477 · Jan low 8°F · 45 in snow

Price vs ranking

More Minnesota rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota
• The 14 Quietest Small Towns in Minnesota
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Minnesota
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Minnesota
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Minnesota
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Minnesota
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Minnesota

Same ranking, other places

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• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New York With Mild Winters
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Michigan With Mild Winters
• The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Texas With Mild Winters
• The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters
• The 23 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey With Mild Winters
• The 12 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Florida With Mild Winters
• The 19 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin With Mild Winters
• The 11 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Ohio With Mild Winters