The Town FilesAurora, Minnesota
City in St. Louis County · population 1,678 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,600
- Household income
- $42,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- -7° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 57.4
Aurora is a city of 1,678 people in St. Louis County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $97,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 92% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns.
How Aurora 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 Aurora is worth $97,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $42,083, which is more affordable than 89% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $509 a month. 80.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aurora | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $509 | $991 |
| Median household income | $42,083 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 80.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Aurora
| People | Aurora | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Aurora
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows -7.3°F. About 28.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 223 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Aurora since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 17, 2017.
Severe weather in St. Louis County since 1996
St. Louis County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2025 | Fire | FM-5583: Munger Shaw Fire |
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in St. Louis County
St. Louis County had 95,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,452 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Aurora itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Aurora
2 public schools with 871 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MESABI EAST ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 476 | 12.5 |
| MESABI EAST SECONDARY | 7-12 | 395 | 17.2 |
Towns near Aurora
- White, MN2.3 mi · 3,136 people · home $123,600
- Biwabik, MN4.8 mi · 961 people · home $111,200
- Hoyt Lakes, MN6.8 mi · 2,020 people · home $93,300
- Biwabik, MN7.2 mi · 833 people · home $222,100
- Gilbert, MN10.5 mi · 1,687 people · home $126,000
- Embarrass, MN10.8 mi · 601 people · home $203,800
- Wuori, MN12.0 mi · 569 people · home $192,500
- Virginia, MN12.9 mi · 8,421 people · home $120,600
Aurora questions
Is Aurora, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aurora scores better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 39%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.4).
How much does a house cost in Aurora?
The median owner-occupied home in Aurora is valued at $97,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,083, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $509 a month.
What is the weather like in Aurora?
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows -7.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.1 inches of precipitation a year and 75.9 inches of snow.
Does Aurora get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Aurora in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)