The Town FilesAitkin, Minnesota
City in Aitkin County · population 2,168 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,300
- Household income
- $47,978
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 44.0
Aitkin is a city of 2,168 people in Aitkin County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $181,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 80% of Minnesota towns.
How Aitkin 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 Aitkin is worth $181,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $47,978, which is more affordable than 30% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $679 a month. 59.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aitkin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $679 | $991 |
| Median household income | $47,978 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.3% | — |
Who lives in Aitkin
| People | Aitkin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Aitkin
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 0.1°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aitkin since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 12, 2024 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 12, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on August 31, 2018.
Severe weather in Aitkin County since 1996
Aitkin County has been included in 21 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 |
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 8, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4658: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Aitkin County
Aitkin County had 4,328 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,689 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Aitkin itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Aitkin
3 public schools with 995 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AITKIN SECONDARY SCHOOL | 7-12 | 520 | 13.7 |
| RIPPLESIDE ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 463 | 12.2 |
| AITKIN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING PROGRAM | 8-12 | 12 | — |
Towns near Aitkin
- Aitkin, MN3.6 mi · 910 people · home $305,800
- Spencer, MN4.0 mi · 522 people · home $242,100
- Farm Island, MN5.1 mi · 995 people · home $347,000
- Nordland, MN5.4 mi · 983 people · home $302,800
- Deerwood, MN9.0 mi · 1,309 people · home $422,700
- Deerwood, MN10.1 mi · 526 people · home $225,000
- Crosby, MN11.7 mi · 2,360 people · home $185,600
- Bay Lake, MN13.4 mi · 921 people · home $434,400
Aitkin questions
Is Aitkin, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aitkin scores better for retirees than 80% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 21%. 29.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Aitkin?
The median owner-occupied home in Aitkin is valued at $181,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,978, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $679 a month.
What is the weather like in Aitkin?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 0.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 41.6 inches of snow.
Does Aitkin get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aitkin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 12, 2024. 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)