The Town FilesAda, Minnesota
City in Norman County · population 1,740 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,800
- Household income
- $64,091
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 39.8
Ada is a city of 1,740 people in Norman County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $137,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 95% of Minnesota towns.
How Ada ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ada is worth $137,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $64,091, which is more affordable than 91% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $746 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ada | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $746 | $991 |
| Median household income | $64,091 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Ada
| People | Ada | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Ada
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows -3.9°F. About 25.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ada since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 11, 2017 about 5.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 35 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 1999.
Severe weather in Norman County since 1996
Norman County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 13, 2022 | Flood | DR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Norman County
Norman County had 1,710 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,805 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Ada itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Ada
2 public schools with 701 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada-Borup-West Elementary | PK-5 | 365 | 17.4 |
| Ada-Borup-West Secondary | 6-12 | 336 | 14.6 |
Towns near Ada
- Twin Valley, MN12.4 mi · 723 people · home $93,400
- Halstad, MN14.9 mi · 564 people · home $128,600
- Fertile, MN19.4 mi · 804 people · home $129,500
- Garfield, MN21.3 mi · 519 people · home $247,300
- Pembina, MN23.9 mi · 621 people · home $174,400
- Spring Prairie, MN25.2 mi · 506 people · home $305,600
- Mahnomen, MN25.8 mi · 1,240 people · home $83,200
- Oakport, MN26.6 mi · 506 people · home $425,000
Ada questions
Is Ada, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ada scores better for retirees than 91% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 61%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Ada?
The median owner-occupied home in Ada is valued at $137,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,091, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $746 a month.
What is the weather like in Ada?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows -3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.0 inches of precipitation a year and 40.9 inches of snow.
Does Ada get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ada since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 11, 2017. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)