The Town FilesKarlstad, Minnesota
City in Kittson County · population 710 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $126,300
- Household income
- $64,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- -5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 50.2
Karlstad is a city of 710 people in Kittson County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $126,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 85% of Minnesota towns.
How Karlstad 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 Karlstad is worth $126,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $64,000, which is more affordable than 94% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $619 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Karlstad | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $619 | $991 |
| Median household income | $64,000 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Karlstad
| People | Karlstad | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Karlstad
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows -4.6°F. About 22.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Karlstad since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 5, 2006 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 18, 2001.
Severe weather in Kittson County since 1996
Kittson County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 Kittson County
Kittson County had 1,436 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,935 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Karlstad itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Karlstad
2 public schools with 176 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARLSTAD ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 93 | 11.6 |
| TRI-COUNTY SECONDARY | 7-12 | 83 | 11.9 |
Towns near Karlstad
- Greenbush, MN17.4 mi · 682 people · home $145,500
- Stephen, MN18.6 mi · 592 people · home $87,500
- Argyle, MN21.6 mi · 544 people · home $191,800
- Hallock, MN23.4 mi · 906 people · home $140,000
- Warren, MN29.0 mi · 1,605 people · home $148,400
Karlstad questions
Is Karlstad, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Karlstad scores better for retirees than 99% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 85%. 28.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Karlstad?
The median owner-occupied home in Karlstad is valued at $126,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,000, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $619 a month.
What is the weather like in Karlstad?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows -4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.9 inches of precipitation a year and 43.6 inches of snow.
Does Karlstad get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Karlstad since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 5, 2006. 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)