The Town FilesLake Benton, Minnesota
City in Lincoln County · population 687 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,800
- Household income
- $52,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 37.5
Lake Benton is a city of 687 people in Lincoln County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $99,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 82% of Minnesota towns.
How Lake Benton 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 Lake Benton is worth $99,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $52,250, which is more affordable than 95% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $513 a month. 73.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Benton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $513 | $991 |
| Median household income | $52,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 73.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake Benton
| People | Lake Benton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Lake Benton
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 4.8°F. About 28.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Benton since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 1, 2011 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 28, 1986.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 1,684 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,358 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Lake Benton itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Lake Benton
2 public schools with 113 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE BENTON ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 111 | 9.3 |
| LAKE BENTON SECONDARY | 7-12 | 2 | — |
Towns near Lake Benton
- Tyler, MN8.1 mi · 1,138 people · home $151,100
- Elkton, SD9.1 mi · 755 people · home $185,100
- Ivanhoe, MN14.2 mi · 560 people · home $66,500
- Hendricks, MN18.1 mi · 616 people · home $115,500
- Pipestone, MN18.4 mi · 4,215 people · home $114,100
- Aurora, SD19.0 mi · 1,047 people · home $234,600
- White, SD20.9 mi · 537 people · home $128,800
- Flandreau, SD21.2 mi · 2,372 people · home $150,400
Lake Benton questions
Is Lake Benton, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Benton scores better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 72%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Lake Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Benton is valued at $99,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,250, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $513 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Benton?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 4.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.6 inches of precipitation a year and 42.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake Benton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 1, 2011. 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)