The Town FilesFish Lake, Minnesota
Township in Chisago County · population 2,193 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $400,200
- Household income
- $123,317
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 44.3
Fish Lake is a township of 2,193 people in Chisago County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $400,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 90% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 78% of Minnesota towns.
How Fish Lake 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 Fish Lake is worth $400,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $123,317, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. 95.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fish Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $400,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $123,317 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 95.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.3% | — |
Who lives in Fish Lake
| People | Fish Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 36.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Fish Lake
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 3.6°F. About 29.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fish Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 25, 2002 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 20, 2007.
Severe weather in Chisago County since 1996
Chisago County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Chisago County
Chisago County had 16,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,806 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Fish Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near Fish Lake
- Harris, MN4.5 mi · 1,111 people · home $306,000
- Cambridge, MN5.5 mi · 2,495 people · home $372,800
- Nessel, MN5.7 mi · 1,907 people · home $413,300
- Cambridge, MN7.6 mi · 9,611 people · home $251,600
- Isanti, MN8.0 mi · 2,262 people · home $336,400
- Rush City, MN8.2 mi · 3,228 people · home $233,100
- Stanchfield, MN8.6 mi · 1,168 people · home $329,500
- North Branch, MN8.8 mi · 10,787 people · home $322,300
Fish Lake questions
Is Fish Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fish Lake scores better for retirees than 34% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 90%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Fish Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Fish Lake is valued at $400,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $123,317, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fish Lake?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 3.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.7 inches of precipitation a year and 44.1 inches of snow.
Does Fish Lake get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fish Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 25, 2002. 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)