The Town FilesCanby, Minnesota
City in Yellow Medicine County · population 1,695 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,300
- Household income
- $58,365
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.6
Canby is a city of 1,695 people in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $128,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 90% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 79% of Minnesota towns.
How Canby 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 Canby is worth $128,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $58,365, which is more affordable than 91% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $588 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canby | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $588 | $991 |
| Median household income | $58,365 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Canby
| People | Canby | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Canby
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 5.4°F. About 27.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canby since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 12, 2022 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 28, 2025.
Severe weather in Yellow Medicine County since 1996
Yellow Medicine County has been included in 24 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 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Yellow Medicine County
Yellow Medicine County had 3,621 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,625 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Canby itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Canby
3 public schools with 590 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CANBY ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 297 | 12.4 |
| CANBY SECONDARY | 7-12 | 293 | 19.5 |
| Canby Learning Center Credit Recov | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Canby
- Hendricks, MN16.3 mi · 616 people · home $115,500
- Ivanhoe, MN17.4 mi · 560 people · home $66,500
- Minneota, MN17.7 mi · 1,366 people · home $161,300
- Dawson, MN18.2 mi · 1,466 people · home $137,500
- Clear Lake, SD20.8 mi · 1,218 people · home $162,500
- Madison, MN20.9 mi · 1,518 people · home $97,000
- Clarkfield, MN23.2 mi · 852 people · home $95,600
- White, SD26.8 mi · 537 people · home $128,800
Canby questions
Is Canby, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canby scores better for retirees than 79% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 70%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Canby?
The median owner-occupied home in Canby is valued at $128,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,365, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $588 a month.
What is the weather like in Canby?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 5.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 47.8 inches of snow.
Does Canby get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 12, 2022. 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)