The Town FilesElmdale, Minnesota
Township in Morrison County · population 981 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $293,600
- Household income
- $80,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 41.7
Elmdale is a township of 981 people in Morrison County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $293,600, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 73% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 72% of Minnesota towns.
How Elmdale 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 Elmdale is worth $293,600, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $80,833, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,100 a month. 92.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmdale | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $293,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,100 | $991 |
| Median household income | $80,833 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Elmdale
| People | Elmdale | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 34.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Elmdale
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 0.1°F. About 29.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmdale since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 15, 1998 about 2.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 15, 1979.
Severe weather in Morrison County since 1996
Morrison County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms 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 |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Morrison County
Morrison County had 11,175 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,270 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Elmdale itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Elmdale
- Swanville, MN6.1 mi · 510 people · home $318,500
- Holdingford, MN6.5 mi · 743 people · home $205,700
- Krain, MN6.9 mi · 984 people · home $364,800
- Swan River, MN7.1 mi · 723 people · home $305,600
- Holding, MN7.6 mi · 1,182 people · home $297,400
- Two Rivers, MN7.9 mi · 780 people · home $307,500
- Grey Eagle, MN8.0 mi · 556 people · home $397,100
- Burnhamville, MN9.5 mi · 773 people · home $296,700
Elmdale questions
Is Elmdale, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmdale scores better for retirees than 11% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 61%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Elmdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmdale is valued at $293,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,833, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,100 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmdale?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 0.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.1 inches of precipitation a year and 50.7 inches of snow.
Does Elmdale get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 15, 1998. 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)