The Town FilesEllendale, Minnesota
City in Steele County · population 676 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,200
- Household income
- $89,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 37.4
Ellendale is a city of 676 people in Steele County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $155,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 77% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 76% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Minnesota towns.
How Ellendale 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 Ellendale is worth $155,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $89,375, which is more affordable than 98% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ellendale | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $804 | $991 |
| Median household income | $89,375 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Ellendale
| People | Ellendale | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Ellendale
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 5.1°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellendale since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1967 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 72 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on June 17, 2009.
Severe weather in Steele County since 1996
Steele County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: 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 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Steele County
Steele County had 18,956 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,897 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Ellendale itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Ellendale
1 public school with 358 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NRHEG ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 358 | 11.5 |
Towns near Ellendale
- Berlin, MN2.7 mi · 506 people · home $279,500
- Geneva, MN3.9 mi · 508 people · home $182,500
- Lemond, MN7.5 mi · 503 people · home $263,200
- Clarks Grove, MN7.7 mi · 694 people · home $123,400
- Somerset, MN8.2 mi · 733 people · home $283,300
- New Richland, MN9.8 mi · 1,229 people · home $137,000
- Bancroft, MN10.8 mi · 792 people · home $260,300
- Otisco, MN11.4 mi · 544 people · home $320,300
Ellendale questions
Is Ellendale, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ellendale scores better for retirees than 65% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 52%. 9.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Ellendale?
The median owner-occupied home in Ellendale is valued at $155,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,375, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Ellendale?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 5.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 45.0 inches of snow.
Does Ellendale get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellendale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1967. 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)