The Town FilesBrandon, Minnesota
City in Douglas County · population 501 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,800
- Household income
- $73,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 46.3
Brandon is a city of 501 people in Douglas County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $175,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 93% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 89% of Minnesota towns.
How Brandon 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 Brandon is worth $175,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $73,375, which is more affordable than 86% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $860 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brandon | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $860 | $991 |
| Median household income | $73,375 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Brandon
| People | Brandon | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Brandon
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 2.3°F. About 24.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brandon since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 26, 1996 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 17, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 17, 2010.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 14 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 |
| July 8, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4658: 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 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 19,527 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,062 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Brandon itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Brandon
3 public schools with 398 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon-Evansville High School | 9-12 | 150 | 16.7 |
| Brandon-Evansville Middle School | 6-8 | 137 | 27.4 |
| Brandon Elementary | PK-1 | 111 | 11.1 |
Towns near Brandon
- Brandon, MN0.9 mi · 763 people · home $353,700
- Evansville, MN5.3 mi · 603 people · home $133,000
- Moe, MN6.2 mi · 763 people · home $419,200
- Ida, MN6.9 mi · 1,404 people · home $420,000
- La Grand, MN8.3 mi · 4,279 people · home $384,600
- Holmes City, MN10.9 mi · 799 people · home $352,000
- Alexandria, MN12.1 mi · 14,335 people · home $275,300
- Carlos, MN12.3 mi · 2,221 people · home $458,300
Brandon questions
Is Brandon, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brandon scores better for retirees than 89% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 93%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Brandon?
The median owner-occupied home in Brandon is valued at $175,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,375, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $860 a month.
What is the weather like in Brandon?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.1 inches of precipitation a year and 46.3 inches of snow.
Does Brandon get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brandon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 26, 1996. 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)