The Town FilesHalstad, Minnesota
City in Norman County · population 564 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,600
- Household income
- $66,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.8
Halstad is a city of 564 people in Norman County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $128,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 87% of Minnesota towns.
How Halstad 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 Halstad is worth $128,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $66,250, which is more affordable than 95% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $681 a month. 82.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Halstad | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $681 | $991 |
| Median household income | $66,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 82.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Halstad
| People | Halstad | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 35.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Halstad
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 1.0°F. About 22.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Halstad since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 11, 2017 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 20, 2013.
Severe weather in Norman County since 1996
Norman County has been included in 32 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 |
| July 13, 2022 | Flood | DR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Norman County
Norman County had 1,710 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,805 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Halstad itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Halstad
- Hillsboro, ND11.7 mi · 1,649 people · home $174,800
- Ada, MN14.9 mi · 1,740 people · home $137,800
- Mayville, ND25.5 mi · 1,854 people · home $198,200
- Harwood, ND26.0 mi · 794 people · home $321,100
- Twin Valley, MN27.3 mi · 723 people · home $93,400
- Portland, ND27.4 mi · 578 people · home $194,000
- Fertile, MN28.3 mi · 804 people · home $129,500
- Oakport, MN28.7 mi · 506 people · home $425,000
Halstad questions
Is Halstad, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Halstad scores better for retirees than 74% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 67%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Halstad?
The median owner-occupied home in Halstad is valued at $128,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,250, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $681 a month.
What is the weather like in Halstad?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 1.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.3 inches of precipitation a year and 40.9 inches of snow.
Does Halstad get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Halstad since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 11, 2017. 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)