The Town FilesLake Emma, Minnesota
Township in Hubbard County · population 965 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $440,500
- Household income
- $100,521
- Jan low / Jul high
- -3° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 60.3
Lake Emma is a township of 965 people in Hubbard County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $440,500, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 99% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 98% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Minnesota towns.
How Lake Emma 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 Emma is worth $440,500, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $100,521, which is more affordable than 12% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Emma | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $440,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $733 | $991 |
| Median household income | $100,521 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 61.9% | — |
Who lives in Lake Emma
| People | Lake Emma | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 20.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Lake Emma
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows -2.8°F. About 23.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Emma since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 6, 2008 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 2, 1989.
Severe weather in Hubbard County since 1996
Hubbard County has been included in 10 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 |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 14, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1419: Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Hubbard County
Hubbard County had 6,263 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,510 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Lake Emma itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Towns near Lake Emma
- Mantrap, MN4.4 mi · 522 people · home $318,800
- Henrietta, MN7.0 mi · 1,514 people · home $296,000
- Arago, MN7.2 mi · 606 people · home $376,000
- Nevis, MN8.9 mi · 1,143 people · home $341,000
- Park Rapids, MN9.5 mi · 4,142 people · home $227,500
- Todd, MN9.8 mi · 1,464 people · home $294,400
- Akeley, MN10.1 mi · 559 people · home $251,600
- Hubbard, MN12.3 mi · 770 people · home $324,500
Lake Emma questions
Is Lake Emma, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Emma scores better for retirees than 98% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 99%. 39.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.3).
How much does a house cost in Lake Emma?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Emma is valued at $440,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,521, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Emma?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows -2.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.9 inches of precipitation a year and 51.6 inches of snow.
Does Lake Emma get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Emma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 6, 2008. 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)