The Town FilesAtwater, Minnesota
City in Kandiyohi County · population 1,124 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,900
- Household income
- $71,042
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 33.1
Atwater is a city of 1,124 people in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $159,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 84% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Minnesota towns.
How Atwater 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 Atwater is worth $159,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $71,042, which is more affordable than 89% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $768 a month. 80.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atwater | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $768 | $991 |
| Median household income | $71,042 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 80.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Atwater
| People | Atwater | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 32.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Atwater
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows -0.2°F. About 29.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atwater since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 14, 2020 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 9, 2022.
Severe weather in Kandiyohi County since 1996
Kandiyohi County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kandiyohi County
Kandiyohi County had 23,173 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,980 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Atwater itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Atwater
1 public school with 361 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.C.G.C. ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 361 | 13.4 |
Towns near Atwater
- Harrison, MN4.3 mi · 554 people · home $343,900
- Grove City, MN4.7 mi · 624 people · home $142,100
- Kandiyohi, MN7.6 mi · 569 people · home $161,600
- Kandiyohi, MN8.2 mi · 572 people · home $308,800
- Green Lake, MN8.7 mi · 1,637 people · home $421,600
- Litchfield, MN9.4 mi · 828 people · home $338,100
- Irving, MN10.3 mi · 965 people · home $408,600
- Spicer, MN10.4 mi · 1,112 people · home $294,700
Atwater questions
Is Atwater, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atwater scores better for retirees than 41% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 41%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.1).
How much does a house cost in Atwater?
The median owner-occupied home in Atwater is valued at $159,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,042, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $768 a month.
What is the weather like in Atwater?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows -0.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.8 inches of precipitation a year and 47.9 inches of snow.
Does Atwater get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atwater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 14, 2020. 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)