The Town FilesCopley, Minnesota
Township in Clearwater County · population 867 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,000
- Household income
- $72,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- -5° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 31.9
Copley is a township of 867 people in Clearwater County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $188,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 86% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 81% of Minnesota towns.
How Copley 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 Copley is worth $188,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $72,292, which is more affordable than 82% of Minnesota towns. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Copley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $72,292 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.5% | — |
Who lives in Copley
| People | Copley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 32.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Copley
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows -5.2°F. About 26.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Copley since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 17, 2010 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 21, 1971.
Severe weather in Clearwater County since 1996
Clearwater County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Flood | DR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clearwater County
Clearwater County had 2,536 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,036 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Copley itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Towns near Copley
- Bagley, MN2.6 mi · 1,285 people · home $138,600
- Popple, MN6.3 mi · 535 people · home $239,500
- Lammers, MN11.2 mi · 602 people · home $277,300
- Eckles, MN16.3 mi · 2,014 people · home $227,400
- Grant Valley, MN17.0 mi · 2,427 people · home $290,900
- Liberty, MN18.3 mi · 746 people · home $261,400
- Fosston, MN18.9 mi · 1,434 people · home $151,700
- Twin Lakes, MN20.8 mi · 727 people · home $121,500
Copley questions
Is Copley, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Copley scores better for retirees than 81% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 48%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.9).
How much does a house cost in Copley?
The median owner-occupied home in Copley is valued at $188,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,292, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Copley?
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows -5.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.6 inches of precipitation a year and 51.6 inches of snow.
Does Copley get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Copley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 17, 2010. 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)