The Town FilesDeer River, Minnesota
City in Itasca County · population 909 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,200
- Household income
- $38,824
- Jan low / Jul high
- -3° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 40.3
Deer River is a city of 909 people in Itasca County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $111,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 80% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Minnesota towns.
How Deer River 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 Deer River is worth $111,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $38,824, which is more affordable than 74% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $816 a month. 67.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Deer River | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $816 | $991 |
| Median household income | $38,824 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Deer River
| People | Deer River | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Deer River
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows -2.9°F. About 27.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Deer River since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 30, 2022 about 0.1 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 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 1, 2002.
Severe weather in Itasca County since 1996
Itasca County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Itasca County
Itasca County had 16,608 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,071 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Deer River itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Deer River
4 public schools with 852 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEER RIVER SECONDARY | 6-12 | 438 | 15.1 |
| KING ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 396 | 9.4 |
| Deer River High School ALP | 10-12 | 12 | — |
| Deer River Schools SPED | K-5 | 6 | 6.0 |
Towns near Deer River
- Morse, MN3.0 mi · 555 people · home $211,700
- Deer River, MN4.0 mi · 644 people · home $218,800
- Cohasset, MN9.0 mi · 2,689 people · home $330,500
- Arbo, MN13.9 mi · 862 people · home $263,700
- Wabana, MN13.9 mi · 503 people · home $302,900
- Grand Rapids, MN14.0 mi · 11,126 people · home $213,800
- La Prairie, MN16.0 mi · 653 people · home $212,800
- Coleraine, MN16.8 mi · 2,006 people · home $211,800
Deer River questions
Is Deer River, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Deer River scores better for retirees than 77% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 59%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Deer River?
The median owner-occupied home in Deer River is valued at $111,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,824, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $816 a month.
What is the weather like in Deer River?
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows -2.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.7 inches of precipitation a year and 48.1 inches of snow.
Does Deer River get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Deer River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 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)