The Town FilesCrosby, Minnesota
City in Crow Wing County · population 2,360 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,600
- Household income
- $41,554
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 52.3
Crosby is a city of 2,360 people in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $185,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 93% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 92% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns.
How Crosby 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 Crosby is worth $185,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $41,554, which is more affordable than 10% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $849 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crosby | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $849 | $991 |
| Median household income | $41,554 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Crosby
| People | Crosby | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Crosby
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows -0.1°F. About 24.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crosby since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 26, 1977 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 12, 2024.
Severe weather in Crow Wing County since 1996
Crow Wing County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: 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 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County had 31,053 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,044 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Crosby itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Crosby
2 public schools with 991 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUYUNA RANGE ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 530 | 12.0 |
| CROSBY-IRONTON SECONDARY | 7-12 | 461 | 17.7 |
Towns near Crosby
- Ironton, MN2.8 mi · 576 people · home $144,000
- Deerwood, MN2.9 mi · 526 people · home $225,000
- Irondale, MN3.5 mi · 1,262 people · home $296,200
- Deerwood, MN4.1 mi · 1,309 people · home $422,700
- Center, MN8.0 mi · 990 people · home $339,100
- Nokay Lake, MN8.3 mi · 898 people · home $304,300
- Mission, MN8.9 mi · 796 people · home $424,500
- Bay Lake, MN9.1 mi · 921 people · home $434,400
Crosby questions
Is Crosby, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crosby scores better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 43%. 33.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.3).
How much does a house cost in Crosby?
The median owner-occupied home in Crosby is valued at $185,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,554, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $849 a month.
What is the weather like in Crosby?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows -0.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.5 inches of precipitation a year and 43.2 inches of snow.
Does Crosby get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crosby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 26, 1977. 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)