The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 939 towns of 500–10,000 people in Minnesota, scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Silver Bay, MN.

1. 25Sherburn, Minnesota

   Retirement: 83rd percentile · Quiet: 71st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 97th percentile

   Sherburn is a city of 1,058 people in Martin County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $106,900 against household income of $59,777; January lows average 6°F.

   1,058 people · Martin County · median home $106,900 · income $59,777 · Jan low 6°F · 48 in snow

   Full Sherburn, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Gibbon, Minnesota

   Retirement: 79th percentile · Quiet: 77th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 95th percentile

   Gibbon is a city of 784 people in Sibley County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $102,700 against household income of $55,278; January lows average 7°F.

   784 people · Sibley County · median home $102,700 · income $55,278 · Jan low 7°F · 44 in snow

   Full Gibbon, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Blackduck, Minnesota

   Retirement: 91st percentile · Quiet: 82nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 79th percentile

   Blackduck is a city of 845 people in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $96,900 against household income of $36,447; January lows average -5°F.

   845 people · Beltrami County · median home $96,900 · income $36,447 · Jan low -5°F · 49 in snow

   Full Blackduck, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Fertile, Minnesota

   Retirement: 78th percentile · Quiet: 81st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 95th percentile

   Fertile is a city of 804 people in Polk County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $129,500 against household income of $67,125; January lows average -4°F.

   804 people · Polk County · median home $129,500 · income $67,125 · Jan low -4°F · 50 in snow

   Full Fertile, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Wabana, Minnesota

   Retirement: 98th percentile · Quiet: 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

   Wabana is a township of 503 people in Itasca County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $302,900 against household income of $95,417; January lows average -3°F.

   503 people · Itasca County · median home $302,900 · income $95,417 · Jan low -3°F · 61 in snow

   Full Wabana, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Tyler, Minnesota

   Retirement: 93rd percentile · Quiet: 72nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 89th percentile

   Tyler is a city of 1,138 people in Lincoln County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $151,100 against household income of $65,500; January lows average 5°F.

   1,138 people · Lincoln County · median home $151,100 · income $65,500 · Jan low 5°F · 42 in snow

   Full Tyler, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Heron Lake, Minnesota

   Retirement: 73rd percentile · Quiet: 84th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 99th percentile

   Heron Lake is a city of 602 people in Jackson County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $88,600 against household income of $68,000; January lows average 5°F.

   602 people · Jackson County · median home $88,600 · income $68,000 · Jan low 5°F · 46 in snow

   Full Heron Lake, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Liberty, Minnesota

   Retirement: 92nd percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 79th percentile

   Liberty is a township of 746 people in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $261,400 against household income of $98,333; January lows average -3°F.

   746 people · Beltrami County · median home $261,400 · income $98,333 · Jan low -3°F

   Full Liberty, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Kenyon, Minnesota

   Retirement: 86th percentile · Quiet: 90th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 82nd percentile

   Kenyon is a city of 1,894 people in Goodhue County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $216,800 against household income of $82,500; January lows average 5°F.

   1,894 people · Goodhue County · median home $216,800 · income $82,500 · Jan low 5°F · 44 in snow

   Full Kenyon, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Baudette, Minnesota

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Quiet: 74th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 86th percentile

    Baudette is a city of 966 people in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $173,600 against household income of $71,061; January lows average -5°F.

    966 people · Lake of the Woods County · median home $173,600 · income $71,061 · Jan low -5°F

    Full Baudette, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Lake Benton, Minnesota

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Quiet: 72nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 95th percentile

    Lake Benton is a city of 687 people in Lincoln County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $99,800 against household income of $52,250; January lows average 5°F.

    687 people · Lincoln County · median home $99,800 · income $52,250 · Jan low 5°F · 42 in snow

    Full Lake Benton, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Argyle, Minnesota

    Retirement: 78th percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 97th percentile

    Argyle is a city of 544 people in Marshall County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $191,800 against household income of $105,625; January lows average -5°F.

    544 people · Marshall County · median home $191,800 · income $105,625 · Jan low -5°F · 44 in snow

    Full Argyle, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13McIntosh, Minnesota

    Retirement: 94th percentile · Quiet: 69th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 97th percentile

    McIntosh is a city of 606 people in Polk County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $103,600 against household income of $56,944; January lows average -5°F.

    606 people · Polk County · median home $103,600 · income $56,944 · Jan low -5°F

    Full McIntosh, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Stephen, Minnesota

    Retirement: 78th percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 100th percentile

    Stephen is a city of 592 people in Marshall County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $87,500 against household income of $71,250; January lows average -5°F.

    592 people · Marshall County · median home $87,500 · income $71,250 · Jan low -5°F · 44 in snow

    Full Stephen, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Brandon, Minnesota

    Retirement: 89th percentile · Quiet: 93rd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 86th percentile

    Brandon is a city of 501 people in Douglas County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $175,800 against household income of $73,375; January lows average 2°F.

    501 people · Douglas County · median home $175,800 · income $73,375 · Jan low 2°F · 46 in snow

    Full Brandon, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Littlefork, Minnesota

    Retirement: 86th percentile · Quiet: 97th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 86th percentile

    Littlefork is a city of 553 people in Koochiching County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $150,800 against household income of $64,130; January lows average -8°F.

    553 people · Koochiching County · median home $150,800 · income $64,130 · Jan low -8°F · 55 in snow

    Full Littlefork, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Winnebago, Minnesota

    Retirement: 80th percentile · Quiet: 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 95th percentile

    Winnebago is a city of 1,391 people in Faribault County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $110,900 against household income of $59,643; January lows average 6°F.

    1,391 people · Faribault County · median home $110,900 · income $59,643 · Jan low 6°F · 47 in snow

    Full Winnebago, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Hallock, Minnesota

    Retirement: 96th percentile · Quiet: 80th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 94th percentile

    Hallock is a city of 906 people in Kittson County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $140,000 against household income of $68,854; January lows average -4°F.

    906 people · Kittson County · median home $140,000 · income $68,854 · Jan low -4°F

    Full Hallock, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Appleton, Minnesota

    Retirement: 94th percentile · Quiet: 82nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 97th percentile

    Appleton is a city of 1,392 people in Swift County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $77,000 against household income of $43,958; January lows average 4°F.

    1,392 people · Swift County · median home $77,000 · income $43,958 · Jan low 4°F · 51 in snow

    Full Appleton, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Evansville, Minnesota

    Retirement: 89th percentile · Quiet: 93rd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 92nd percentile

    Evansville is a city of 603 people in Douglas County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $133,000 against household income of $64,028; January lows average 2°F.

    603 people · Douglas County · median home $133,000 · income $64,028 · Jan low 2°F

    Full Evansville, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Babbitt, Minnesota

    Retirement: 83rd percentile · Quiet: 97th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 97th percentile

    Babbitt is a city of 1,397 people in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $102,300 against household income of $55,875; January lows average -7°F.

    1,397 people · St. Louis County · median home $102,300 · income $55,875 · Jan low -7°F · 84 in snow

    Full Babbitt, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Madison, Minnesota

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 99th percentile

    Madison is a city of 1,518 people in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $97,000 against household income of $61,172; January lows average 3°F.

    1,518 people · Lac qui Parle County · median home $97,000 · income $61,172 · Jan low 3°F · 47 in snow

    Full Madison, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Karlstad, Minnesota

    Retirement: 99th percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 94th percentile

    Karlstad is a city of 710 people in Kittson County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $126,300 against household income of $64,000; January lows average -5°F.

    710 people · Kittson County · median home $126,300 · income $64,000 · Jan low -5°F · 44 in snow

    Full Karlstad, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Elmore, Minnesota

    Retirement: 90th percentile · Quiet: 89th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 100th percentile

    Elmore is a city of 549 people in Faribault County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $46,700 against household income of $41,250; January lows average 5°F.

    549 people · Faribault County · median home $46,700 · income $41,250 · Jan low 5°F · 44 in snow

    Full Elmore, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Silver Bay, Minnesota

    Retirement: 97th percentile · Quiet: 96th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 89th percentile

    Silver Bay is a city of 1,857 people in Lake County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $158,900 against household income of $69,489; January lows average 1°F.

    1,857 people · Lake County · median home $158,900 · income $69,489 · Jan low 1°F · 94 in snow

    Full Silver Bay, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Minnesota rankings

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• The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota With Mild Winters

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