The Town FilesGarrison, Minnesota
Township in Crow Wing County · population 837 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,000
- Household income
- $73,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 53.6
Garrison is a township of 837 people in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $263,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 97% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 81% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 70% of Minnesota towns.
How Garrison 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 Garrison is worth $263,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $73,250, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garrison | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $825 | $991 |
| Median household income | $73,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 55.5% | — |
Who lives in Garrison
| People | Garrison | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Garrison
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows -0.1°F. About 24.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garrison since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 25, 1973 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 1, 2020.
Severe weather in Crow Wing County since 1996
Crow Wing County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: 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 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County had 31,053 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,044 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Garrison itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Towns near Garrison
- Roosevelt, MN5.5 mi · 582 people · home $284,000
- Bay Lake, MN5.9 mi · 921 people · home $434,400
- Hazelton, MN6.2 mi · 792 people · home $359,100
- Nokay Lake, MN8.1 mi · 898 people · home $304,300
- Vineland, MN8.8 mi · 869 people · home $154,000
- Kathio, MN10.4 mi · 1,507 people · home $219,100
- Richardson, MN11.6 mi · 513 people · home $310,300
- Long Lake, MN11.8 mi · 1,111 people · home $321,500
Garrison questions
Is Garrison, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garrison scores better for retirees than 70% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 97%. 33.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.6).
How much does a house cost in Garrison?
The median owner-occupied home in Garrison is valued at $263,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,250, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Garrison?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows -0.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.5 inches of precipitation a year and 41.6 inches of snow.
Does Garrison get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garrison 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)