The Town FilesHugo, Minnesota
City in Washington County · population 15,766 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $408,900
- Household income
- $116,228
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 40.1
Hugo is a city of 15,766 people in Washington County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $408,900, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more upscale than 92% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 89% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Minnesota towns.
How Hugo 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 Hugo is worth $408,900, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $116,228, which is more affordable than 45% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,891 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hugo | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $408,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,891 | $991 |
| Median household income | $116,228 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Hugo
| People | Hugo | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Hugo
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hugo since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 5.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 5, 1999.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 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 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 95,625 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Hugo itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Hugo
4 public schools with 941 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Star Elementary | K-5 | 476 | 18.3 |
| ONEKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 423 | 12.8 |
| WHITE BEAR TRANSITION PLUS PROGRAM | 10-12 | 42 | 7.0 |
| AWARE | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Hugo
- Centerville, MN4.6 mi · 3,896 people · home $376,900
- White Bear, MN5.4 mi · 11,049 people · home $386,300
- Forest Lake, MN6.0 mi · 20,611 people · home $393,500
- May, MN6.1 mi · 2,670 people · home $685,700
- Grant, MN6.2 mi · 3,966 people · home $683,400
- Lino Lakes, MN7.2 mi · 21,399 people · home $407,200
- White Bear Lake, MN7.3 mi · 24,883 people · home $331,800
- Mahtomedi, MN7.3 mi · 8,138 people · home $476,000
Hugo questions
Is Hugo, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hugo scores better for retirees than 42% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 21%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Hugo?
The median owner-occupied home in Hugo is valued at $408,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,228, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,891 a month.
What is the weather like in Hugo?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 49.5 inches of snow.
Does Hugo get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hugo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. 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)