The Town FilesFarm Island, Minnesota
Township in Aitkin County · population 995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $347,000
- Household income
- $68,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 63.2
Farm Island is a township of 995 people in Aitkin County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $347,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 87% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 86% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 74% of Minnesota towns.
How Farm Island 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 Farm Island is worth $347,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $68,250, which is more affordable than 4% of Minnesota towns. 94.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Farm Island | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $347,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $68,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 94.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 53.5% | — |
Who lives in Farm Island
| People | Farm Island | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 10.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Farm Island
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 0.1°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Farm Island since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 25, 1973 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 12, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on August 31, 2018.
Severe weather in Aitkin County since 1996
Aitkin County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Aitkin County
Aitkin County had 4,328 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,689 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Farm Island itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Farm Island
- Aitkin, MN5.1 mi · 2,168 people · home $181,300
- Nordland, MN5.6 mi · 983 people · home $302,800
- Deerwood, MN5.6 mi · 1,309 people · home $422,700
- Aitkin, MN6.5 mi · 910 people · home $305,800
- Deerwood, MN7.0 mi · 526 people · home $225,000
- Bay Lake, MN8.4 mi · 921 people · home $434,400
- Spencer, MN8.6 mi · 522 people · home $242,100
- Hazelton, MN9.1 mi · 792 people · home $359,100
Farm Island questions
Is Farm Island, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Farm Island scores better for retirees than 62% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 86%. 44.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.2).
How much does a house cost in Farm Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Farm Island is valued at $347,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,250, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Farm Island?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 0.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 43.3 inches of snow.
Does Farm Island get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Farm Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 25, 1973. 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)