The Town FilesHam Lake, Minnesota
City in Anoka County · population 16,464 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $442,500
- Household income
- $120,135
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 43.8
Ham Lake is a city of 16,464 people in Anoka County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $442,500, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more upscale than 88% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 82% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 78% of Minnesota towns.
How Ham 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 Ham Lake is worth $442,500, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $120,135, which is more affordable than 34% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,173 a month. 93.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ham Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $442,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,173 | $991 |
| Median household income | $120,135 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ham Lake
| People | Ham Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Ham Lake
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 2.4°F. About 28.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ham Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 3, 1983 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 342 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 105 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 8, 2007.
Severe weather in Anoka County since 1996
Anoka County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1990: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Anoka County
Anoka County had 133,130 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,235 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Ham Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Ham Lake
2 public schools with 1,640 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVINCI ACADEMY (charter) | K-8 | 987 | 16.5 |
| MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 653 | 16.3 |
Towns near Ham Lake
- Columbus, MN4.2 mi · 4,159 people · home $460,200
- Blaine, MN5.8 mi · 70,222 people · home $352,400
- Andover, MN6.9 mi · 32,601 people · home $410,200
- East Bethel, MN6.9 mi · 11,786 people · home $363,900
- Coon Rapids, MN7.8 mi · 63,599 people · home $305,800
- Circle Pines, MN8.0 mi · 5,025 people · home $293,600
- Lino Lakes, MN8.0 mi · 21,399 people · home $407,200
- Centerville, MN9.1 mi · 3,896 people · home $376,900
Ham Lake questions
Is Ham Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ham Lake scores better for retirees than 36% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 27%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Ham Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Ham Lake is valued at $442,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,135, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,173 a month.
What is the weather like in Ham Lake?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 2.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.8 inches of precipitation a year and 44.1 inches of snow.
Does Ham Lake get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ham Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 3, 1983. 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)