The Town FilesElmore, Minnesota
City in Faribault County · population 549 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $46,700
- Household income
- $41,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.6
Elmore is a city of 549 people in Faribault County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $46,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 90% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 89% of Minnesota towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota
- #4 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Minnesota
- #4 in 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Cheapest Homes
- #11 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota With Mild Winters
- #15 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Minnesota
How Elmore 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 Elmore is worth $46,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $41,250, which is more affordable than 100% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,006 a month. 77.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmore | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $46,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,006 | $991 |
| Median household income | $41,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 77.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elmore
| People | Elmore | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Elmore
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.5°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmore since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 15, 1998 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 17, 2010.
Severe weather in Faribault County since 1996
Faribault County has been included in 22 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 |
| 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Faribault County
Faribault County had 4,549 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,879 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Elmore itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Towns near Elmore
- Blue Earth, MN9.3 mi · 3,174 people · home $143,600
- Buffalo Center, IA10.9 mi · 857 people · home $100,500
- Swea City, IA14.0 mi · 566 people · home $56,400
- Bancroft, IA16.1 mi · 699 people · home $120,700
- Winnebago, MN18.3 mi · 1,391 people · home $110,900
- Titonka, IA18.7 mi · 511 people · home $65,800
- Fairmont, MN21.1 mi · 10,487 people · home $169,900
- Armstrong, IA21.3 mi · 875 people · home $90,500
Elmore questions
Is Elmore, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmore scores better for retirees than 90% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 89%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Elmore?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmore is valued at $46,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,250, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $1,006 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmore?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 43.8 inches of snow.
Does Elmore get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmore since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 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)