The Town FilesCarlos, Minnesota
Township in Douglas County · population 2,221 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $458,300
- Household income
- $104,352
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 49.6
Carlos is a township of 2,221 people in Douglas County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $458,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 91% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Carlos 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 Carlos is worth $458,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $104,352, which is more affordable than 12% of Minnesota towns. 94.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlos | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $458,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $104,352 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 94.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.4% | — |
Who lives in Carlos
| People | Carlos | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Carlos
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 50.3 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
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlos since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 30, 2022 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 20, 1974.
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 Carlos itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Towns near Carlos
- Ida, MN5.6 mi · 1,404 people · home $420,000
- Miltona, MN6.6 mi · 914 people · home $449,500
- Alexandria, MN7.1 mi · 14,335 people · home $275,300
- Osakis, MN8.0 mi · 681 people · home $310,900
- La Grand, MN8.1 mi · 4,279 people · home $384,600
- Osakis, MN11.7 mi · 1,771 people · home $173,500
- Brandon, MN11.7 mi · 763 people · home $353,700
- Hudson, MN11.8 mi · 944 people · home $384,200
Carlos questions
Is Carlos, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlos scores better for retirees than 84% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 72%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Carlos?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlos is valued at $458,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,352, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Carlos?
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 50.3 inches of snow.
Does Carlos get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlos since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 30, 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)