The Town FilesForeston, Minnesota
City in Mille Lacs County · population 559 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $253,600
- Household income
- $92,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 34.6
Foreston is a city of 559 people in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $253,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 73% of Minnesota towns.
How Foreston 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 Foreston is worth $253,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $92,000, which is more affordable than 77% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,278 a month. 85.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Foreston | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $253,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,278 | $991 |
| Median household income | $92,000 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 85.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Foreston
| People | Foreston | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 32.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Foreston
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 0.5°F. About 30.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Foreston since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 26, 2019 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 26, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.20 inches on May 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Mille Lacs County since 1996
Mille Lacs County has been included in 10 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Mille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County had 9,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,582 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Foreston itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Foreston
- Milo, MN2.9 mi · 1,512 people · home $281,400
- Milaca, MN3.5 mi · 3,021 people · home $203,400
- Milaca, MN3.8 mi · 1,640 people · home $294,000
- Maywood, MN6.0 mi · 976 people · home $350,600
- Granite Ledge, MN6.0 mi · 756 people · home $302,700
- Bogus Brook, MN6.6 mi · 1,470 people · home $309,900
- Borgholm, MN7.1 mi · 1,831 people · home $269,300
- Page, MN9.0 mi · 783 people · home $316,700
Foreston questions
Is Foreston, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Foreston scores better for retirees than 1% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 48%. 6.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Foreston?
The median owner-occupied home in Foreston is valued at $253,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,000, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,278 a month.
What is the weather like in Foreston?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 0.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.8 inches of precipitation a year and 48.9 inches of snow.
Does Foreston get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Foreston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 26, 2019. 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)