The Town FilesDawson, Minnesota
City in Lac qui Parle County · population 1,466 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,500
- Household income
- $68,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.5
Dawson is a city of 1,466 people in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $137,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 81% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 79% of Minnesota towns.
How Dawson 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 Dawson is worth $137,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $68,929, which is more affordable than 94% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $586 a month. 75.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dawson | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $586 | $991 |
| Median household income | $68,929 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 75.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Dawson
| People | Dawson | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 12.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Dawson
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 2.6°F. About 25.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 20, 1951 about 2.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 3, 1959.
Severe weather in Lac qui Parle County since 1996
Lac qui Parle County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Lac qui Parle County
Lac qui Parle County had 2,185 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,748 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Dawson itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Dawson
2 public schools with 566 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVENS ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 302 | 12.6 |
| DAWSON-BOYD SECONDARY | 7-12 | 264 | 14.7 |
Towns near Dawson
- Madison, MN9.0 mi · 1,518 people · home $97,000
- Clarkfield, MN15.3 mi · 852 people · home $95,600
- Montevideo, MN16.4 mi · 5,398 people · home $141,000
- Sparta, MN17.9 mi · 741 people · home $255,200
- Canby, MN18.2 mi · 1,695 people · home $128,300
- Appleton, MN18.7 mi · 1,392 people · home $77,000
- Minneota, MN25.5 mi · 1,366 people · home $161,300
- Granite Falls, MN26.3 mi · 2,737 people · home $136,700
Dawson questions
Is Dawson, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dawson scores better for retirees than 74% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 81%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Dawson?
The median owner-occupied home in Dawson is valued at $137,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,929, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $586 a month.
What is the weather like in Dawson?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 2.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.6 inches of precipitation a year and 51.4 inches of snow.
Does Dawson get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 20, 1951. 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)