The Town FilesBaxter, Minnesota
City in Crow Wing County · population 8,612 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $324,100
- Household income
- $70,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 43.1
Baxter is a city of 8,612 people in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $324,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 87% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 86% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 77% of Minnesota towns.
How Baxter 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 Baxter is worth $324,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $70,688, which is more affordable than 8% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,154 a month. 62.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baxter | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $324,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,154 | $991 |
| Median household income | $70,688 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Baxter
| People | Baxter | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Baxter
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -2.0°F. About 30.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baxter since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 5, 1991 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 23, 2022.
Severe weather in Crow Wing County since 1996
Crow Wing County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County had 31,053 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,044 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Baxter itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Baxter
3 public schools with 2,442 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORESTVIEW MIDDLE | 5-8 | 1,709 | 15.1 |
| BAXTER ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 534 | 14.1 |
| BRAINERD EARLY CHILDHOOD SP. ED. | PK-PK | 199 | 6.9 |
Towns near Baxter
- Brainerd, MN3.8 mi · 14,395 people · home $192,500
- Crow Wing, MN4.8 mi · 2,149 people · home $293,600
- East Gull Lake, MN5.6 mi · 986 people · home $553,700
- Sylvan, MN5.8 mi · 2,889 people · home $298,200
- Oak Lawn, MN7.3 mi · 1,764 people · home $263,200
- Long Lake, MN8.4 mi · 1,111 people · home $321,500
- Fort Ripley, MN8.7 mi · 1,009 people · home $322,300
- Fairview, MN9.2 mi · 889 people · home $481,700
Baxter questions
Is Baxter, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baxter scores better for retirees than 53% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 16%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Baxter?
The median owner-occupied home in Baxter is valued at $324,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,688, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,154 a month.
What is the weather like in Baxter?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -2.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.6 inches of precipitation a year and 48.2 inches of snow.
Does Baxter get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baxter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 5, 1991. 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)