The Town FilesDetroit Lakes, Minnesota
City in Becker County · population 9,869 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $265,800
- Household income
- $62,958
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 41.6
Detroit Lakes is a city of 9,869 people in Becker County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $265,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 91% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 90% of Minnesota towns.
How Detroit Lakes 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 Detroit Lakes is worth $265,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $62,958, which is more affordable than 18% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $954 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Detroit Lakes | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $265,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $954 | $991 |
| Median household income | $62,958 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.2% | — |
Who lives in Detroit Lakes
| People | Detroit Lakes | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Detroit Lakes
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows -3.6°F. About 29.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Detroit Lakes since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 6, 2026 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 4, 1966.
Severe weather in Becker County since 1996
Becker County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 5, 2006 | Flood | DR-1648: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Becker County
Becker County had 15,120 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,242 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Detroit Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Detroit Lakes
11 public schools with 2,783 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DETROIT LAKES SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 851 | 15.8 |
| DETROIT LAKES MIDDLE | 6-8 | 615 | 17.1 |
| ROSSMAN ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 592 | 14.1 |
| ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 583 | 13.3 |
| LINCOLN EARLY CHILDHOOD ED. CENTER | PK-PK | 75 | — |
| DETROIT LAKES AREA LEARNING CENTER | 9-12 | 56 | 9.3 |
| Laker Transitions | 12-12 | 11 | 5.5 |
| HS EXTENDED YEAR PROGRAM | 9-12 | — | — |
| DETROIT LAKES MIDDLE ALC | 6-8 | — | — |
| Detroit Lakes Alternative Program | 9-12 | — | — |
| AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Detroit Lakes
- Perham, MN19.2 mi · 3,512 people · home $199,000
- Pelican Rapids, MN19.9 mi · 2,577 people · home $174,100
- Barnesville, MN29.0 mi · 2,759 people · home $248,700
Detroit Lakes questions
Is Detroit Lakes, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Detroit Lakes scores better for retirees than 68% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 13%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Detroit Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Detroit Lakes is valued at $265,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,958, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $954 a month.
What is the weather like in Detroit Lakes?
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows -3.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.4 inches of precipitation a year and 47.6 inches of snow.
Does Detroit Lakes get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Detroit Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 6, 2026. 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)