The Town FilesKerkhoven, Minnesota
City in Swift County · population 805 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,000
- Household income
- $72,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 38.7
Kerkhoven is a city of 805 people in Swift County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $166,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 85% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 79% of Minnesota towns.
How Kerkhoven 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 Kerkhoven is worth $166,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $72,813, which is more affordable than 89% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $745 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kerkhoven | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $745 | $991 |
| Median household income | $72,813 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Kerkhoven
| People | Kerkhoven | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Kerkhoven
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 45.9 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
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kerkhoven since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 11, 2001 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 19, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 5, 1980.
Severe weather in Swift County since 1996
Swift County has been included in 19 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Swift County
Swift County had 3,737 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,905 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Kerkhoven itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Kerkhoven
2 public schools with 395 students, about 18.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KERKHOVEN SECONDARY | 7-12 | 395 | 18.0 |
| KMS Learning Center | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Kerkhoven
- Dovre, MN12.0 mi · 2,163 people · home $382,200
- Raymond, MN12.6 mi · 782 people · home $158,100
- Lake Andrew, MN13.2 mi · 978 people · home $493,100
- Willmar, MN13.5 mi · 21,015 people · home $198,400
- Clara City, MN16.3 mi · 1,423 people · home $114,300
- Benson, MN16.4 mi · 3,480 people · home $156,000
- Colfax, MN16.9 mi · 612 people · home $358,100
- Whitefield, MN17.3 mi · 512 people · home $171,100
Kerkhoven questions
Is Kerkhoven, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kerkhoven scores better for retirees than 85% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 49%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Kerkhoven?
The median owner-occupied home in Kerkhoven is valued at $166,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,813, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $745 a month.
What is the weather like in Kerkhoven?
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 45.9 inches of snow.
Does Kerkhoven get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kerkhoven since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 11, 2001. 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)