The Town FilesGreen Lake, Minnesota
Township in Kandiyohi County · population 1,637 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $421,600
- Household income
- $107,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 48.7
Green Lake is a township of 1,637 people in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $421,600, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better transit than 91% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 77% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 71% of Minnesota towns.
How Green 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 Green Lake is worth $421,600, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $107,857, which is more affordable than 26% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $971 a month. 94.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Green Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $421,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $971 | $991 |
| Median household income | $107,857 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 94.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.1% | — |
Who lives in Green Lake
| People | Green Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Green Lake
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 1.4°F. About 29.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Green Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 11, 2008 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 25, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 9, 2022.
Severe weather in Kandiyohi County since 1996
Kandiyohi County has been included in 16 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 |
| 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 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kandiyohi County
Kandiyohi County had 23,173 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,980 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Green Lake itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Towns near Green Lake
- Spicer, MN3.0 mi · 1,112 people · home $294,700
- Kandiyohi, MN4.0 mi · 569 people · home $161,600
- Kandiyohi, MN5.8 mi · 572 people · home $308,800
- Harrison, MN6.2 mi · 554 people · home $343,900
- New London, MN6.4 mi · 2,952 people · home $351,400
- Dovre, MN6.5 mi · 2,163 people · home $382,200
- New London, MN7.4 mi · 1,252 people · home $218,800
- Willmar, MN7.6 mi · 21,015 people · home $198,400
Green Lake questions
Is Green Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Green Lake scores better for retirees than 71% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 55%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in Green Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Green Lake is valued at $421,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,857, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $971 a month.
What is the weather like in Green Lake?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 1.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.5 inches of precipitation a year and 46.1 inches of snow.
Does Green Lake get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Green Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 11, 2008. 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)