The Town FilesCenter City, Minnesota
City in Chisago County · population 629 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $362,000
- Household income
- $96,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 56.2
Center City is a city of 629 people in Chisago County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $362,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 96% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 90% of Minnesota towns.
How Center City 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 Center City is worth $362,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $96,875, which is more affordable than 34% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,611 a month. 91.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Center City | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $362,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,611 | $991 |
| Median household income | $96,875 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 91.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.5% | — |
Who lives in Center City
| People | Center City | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 9.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Center City
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.0°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center City since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 23, 1952 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 1, 2001.
Severe weather in Chisago County since 1996
Chisago County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Chisago County
Chisago County had 16,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,806 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Center City itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Center City
- Lindstrom, MN1.5 mi · 4,888 people · home $358,100
- Chisago Lake, MN2.3 mi · 4,818 people · home $437,700
- Shafer, MN2.9 mi · 1,142 people · home $242,800
- Franconia, MN4.7 mi · 1,713 people · home $431,900
- Chisago City, MN5.1 mi · 5,558 people · home $413,000
- Shafer, MN5.5 mi · 1,131 people · home $408,600
- Taylors Falls, MN7.0 mi · 1,055 people · home $275,200
- Stacy, MN7.7 mi · 1,703 people · home $323,800
Center City questions
Is Center City, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Center City scores better for retirees than 22% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 19%. 29.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.2).
How much does a house cost in Center City?
The median owner-occupied home in Center City is valued at $362,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,875, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,611 a month.
What is the weather like in Center City?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 51.6 inches of snow.
Does Center City get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 23, 1952. 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)