The Town FilesBarnum, Minnesota
City in Carlton County · population 620 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,200
- Household income
- $43,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 48.9
Barnum is a city of 620 people in Carlton County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $155,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 91% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Minnesota towns.
How Barnum 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 Barnum is worth $155,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $43,438, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $885 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnum | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $885 | $991 |
| Median household income | $43,438 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Barnum
| People | Barnum | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Barnum
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 0.7°F. About 31.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 65.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnum since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 7, 1970 about 8.3 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 43 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 30, 2022.
Severe weather in Carlton County since 1996
Carlton County has been included in 10 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 |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Carlton County
Carlton County had 13,269 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,073 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Barnum itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Public schools in Barnum
2 public schools with 675 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARNUM SECONDARY | 7-12 | 338 | 16.9 |
| BARNUM ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 337 | 12.0 |
Towns near Barnum
- Barnum, MN3.4 mi · 1,098 people · home $243,900
- Mahtowa, MN4.1 mi · 553 people · home $267,700
- Moose Lake, MN4.3 mi · 988 people · home $242,000
- Moose Lake, MN5.1 mi · 2,789 people · home $205,000
- Windemere, MN9.3 mi · 1,620 people · home $312,900
- Blackhoof, MN9.8 mi · 985 people · home $269,400
- Twin Lakes, MN12.5 mi · 2,093 people · home $325,600
- Sturgeon Lake, MN13.0 mi · 534 people · home $230,600
Barnum questions
Is Barnum, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnum scores better for retirees than 53% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 68%. 29.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.9).
How much does a house cost in Barnum?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnum is valued at $155,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,438, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $885 a month.
What is the weather like in Barnum?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 0.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.5 inches of precipitation a year and 65.3 inches of snow.
Does Barnum get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnum since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 7, 1970. 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)