The Town FilesBalaton, Minnesota
City in Lyon County · population 595 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,000
- Household income
- $54,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 48.6
Balaton is a city of 595 people in Lyon County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $94,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 86% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Balaton 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 Balaton is worth $94,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $54,688, which is more affordable than 98% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,138 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Balaton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,138 | $991 |
| Median household income | $54,688 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Balaton
| People | Balaton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Balaton
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.3°F. About 29.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Balaton since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 13, 1968 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 150 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 17, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 28, 2021.
Severe weather in Lyon County since 1996
Lyon County has been included in 18 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 |
| 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lyon County
Lyon County had 13,763 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,859 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Balaton itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Balaton
- Tracy, MN12.4 mi · 2,076 people · home $113,400
- Lake Marshall, MN12.8 mi · 564 people · home $335,500
- The Lakes, MN13.3 mi · 590 people · home $397,100
- Tyler, MN13.5 mi · 1,138 people · home $151,100
- Marshall, MN15.5 mi · 13,628 people · home $210,300
- Slayton, MN17.7 mi · 2,013 people · home $161,700
- Walnut Grove, MN19.9 mi · 751 people · home $90,000
- Lake Benton, MN21.3 mi · 687 people · home $99,800
Balaton questions
Is Balaton, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Balaton scores better for retirees than 64% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 86%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Balaton?
The median owner-occupied home in Balaton is valued at $94,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,688, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $1,138 a month.
What is the weather like in Balaton?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.2 inches of precipitation a year and 45.6 inches of snow.
Does Balaton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Balaton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 13, 1968. 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)