The Town FilesElgin, Minnesota
City in Wabasha County · population 1,115 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,200
- Household income
- $92,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 33.6
Elgin is a city of 1,115 people in Wabasha County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $232,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 86% of Minnesota towns.
How Elgin 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 Elgin is worth $232,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $92,083, which is more affordable than 84% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $727 a month. 81.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elgin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $727 | $991 |
| Median household income | $92,083 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 81.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elgin
| People | Elgin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Elgin
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 4.2°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 17, 2026 about 4.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 11, 2022.
Severe weather in Wabasha County since 1996
Wabasha County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wabasha County
Wabasha County had 6,566 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,637 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Elgin itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Elgin
2 public schools with 567 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLAINVIEW-ELGIN-MILLVILLE 4-6 | 4-6 | 329 | 16.5 |
| PLAINVIEW-ELGIN-MILLVILLE JUNIOR | 7-8 | 238 | 17.0 |
Towns near Elgin
- Elgin, MN2.1 mi · 676 people · home $362,900
- Viola, MN4.5 mi · 548 people · home $440,000
- Plainview, MN4.9 mi · 3,483 people · home $245,300
- Haverhill, MN7.3 mi · 1,498 people · home $549,800
- Zumbro, MN9.7 mi · 642 people · home $446,700
- Eyota, MN9.8 mi · 2,006 people · home $278,200
- Cascade, MN10.7 mi · 2,837 people · home $506,800
- Marion, MN12.2 mi · 4,027 people · home $416,100
Elgin questions
Is Elgin, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elgin scores better for retirees than 33% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 40%. 10.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Elgin?
The median owner-occupied home in Elgin is valued at $232,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,083, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $727 a month.
What is the weather like in Elgin?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 4.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.3 inches of snow.
Does Elgin get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 17, 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)