The Town FilesKingston, Minnesota
Township in Meeker County · population 1,258 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $364,300
- Household income
- $84,861
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 34.5
Kingston is a township of 1,258 people in Meeker County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $364,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for families than 89% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 89% of Minnesota towns.
How Kingston 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 Kingston is worth $364,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $84,861, which is more affordable than 15% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,425 a month. 92.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kingston | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $364,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,425 | $991 |
| Median household income | $84,861 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.0% | — |
Who lives in Kingston
| People | Kingston | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Kingston
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 2.6°F. About 30.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kingston since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 11, 2016 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 17, 2010.
Severe weather in Meeker County since 1996
Meeker County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Meeker County
Meeker County had 8,042 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,874 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Kingston itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Towns near Kingston
- Forest City, MN5.5 mi · 635 people · home $332,300
- French Lake, MN6.2 mi · 1,213 people · home $367,900
- Kimball, MN6.9 mi · 799 people · home $232,200
- Forest Prairie, MN7.0 mi · 987 people · home $323,300
- Dassel, MN7.1 mi · 1,601 people · home $358,700
- Southside, MN7.3 mi · 1,526 people · home $431,500
- Watkins, MN8.1 mi · 991 people · home $149,100
- Dassel, MN9.1 mi · 1,472 people · home $236,800
Kingston questions
Is Kingston, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kingston scores better for retirees than 49% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 45%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Kingston?
The median owner-occupied home in Kingston is valued at $364,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,861, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,425 a month.
What is the weather like in Kingston?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 2.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.8 inches of precipitation a year and 40.8 inches of snow.
Does Kingston get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kingston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 11, 2016. 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)