The Town FilesGrass Lake, Minnesota
Township in Kanabec County · population 965 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,500
- Household income
- $82,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 48.1
Grass Lake is a township of 965 people in Kanabec County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $235,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800).
How Grass 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 Grass Lake is worth $235,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $82,188, which is more affordable than 74% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $740 a month. 92.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grass Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $740 | $991 |
| Median household income | $82,188 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Grass Lake
| People | Grass Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 41.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Grass Lake
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 0.5°F. About 31.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.0 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
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grass Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 17, 2020 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 29, 2015.
Severe weather in Kanabec County since 1996
Kanabec County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Kanabec County
Kanabec County had 4,221 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,717 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Grass Lake itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Grass Lake
- Braham, MN3.6 mi · 1,769 people · home $196,800
- Brunswick, MN5.9 mi · 1,320 people · home $231,700
- Royalton, MN6.0 mi · 1,034 people · home $287,500
- Comfort, MN6.2 mi · 1,207 people · home $238,100
- Stanchfield, MN6.3 mi · 1,168 people · home $329,500
- Maple Ridge, MN7.8 mi · 715 people · home $328,300
- Mora, MN8.6 mi · 3,665 people · home $171,800
- Nessel, MN8.9 mi · 1,907 people · home $413,300
Grass Lake questions
Is Grass Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grass Lake scores better for retirees than 20% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 60%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.1).
How much does a house cost in Grass Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Grass Lake is valued at $235,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,188, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $740 a month.
What is the weather like in Grass Lake?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 0.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.7 inches of precipitation a year and 52.0 inches of snow.
Does Grass Lake get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grass Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 17, 2020. 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)