The Town FilesBattle Lake, Minnesota
City in Otter Tail County · population 857 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,600
- Household income
- $59,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 57.9
Battle Lake is a city of 857 people in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $257,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 97% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 94% of Minnesota towns.
How Battle Lake 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 Battle Lake is worth $257,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $59,375, which is more affordable than 15% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,052 a month. 61.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Battle Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,052 | $991 |
| Median household income | $59,375 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 61.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.6% | — |
Who lives in Battle Lake
| People | Battle Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Battle Lake
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows -2.0°F. About 28.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Battle Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on July 8, 2020 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on August 9, 2005.
Severe weather in Otter Tail County since 1996
Otter Tail County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2010 | Tornado | DR-1921: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Otter Tail County
Otter Tail County had 22,910 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,013 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Battle Lake itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Battle Lake
2 public schools with 403 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BATTLE LAKE ELEMENTARY | K-6 | 215 | 12.6 |
| BATTLE LAKE SECONDARY | 7-12 | 188 | 14.5 |
Towns near Battle Lake
- Everts, MN3.1 mi · 759 people · home $528,900
- Tordenskjold, MN5.8 mi · 527 people · home $291,200
- Sverdrup, MN6.5 mi · 646 people · home $337,600
- Girard, MN7.0 mi · 715 people · home $445,000
- Otter Tail, MN10.1 mi · 602 people · home $447,600
- Maine, MN10.5 mi · 665 people · home $398,400
- Dane Prairie, MN11.7 mi · 883 people · home $375,200
- Ottertail, MN12.3 mi · 629 people · home $332,900
Battle Lake questions
Is Battle Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Battle Lake scores better for retirees than 97% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 94%. 37.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.9).
How much does a house cost in Battle Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Battle Lake is valued at $257,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,375, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,052 a month.
What is the weather like in Battle Lake?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows -2.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.2 inches of precipitation a year and 45.6 inches of snow.
Does Battle Lake get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Battle Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on July 8, 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)