The Town FilesLakeland, Minnesota
City in Washington County · population 1,710 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $373,900
- Household income
- $100,132
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 56.2
Lakeland is a city of 1,710 people in Washington County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $373,900, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 91% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 91% of Minnesota towns.
How Lakeland 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 Lakeland is worth $373,900, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $100,132, which is more affordable than 34% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,668 a month. 86.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakeland | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $373,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,668 | $991 |
| Median household income | $100,132 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 86.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Lakeland
| People | Lakeland | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 20.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Lakeland
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 24, 1958 about 1.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 111 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 19, 1988.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 95,625 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Lakeland itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Lakeland
1 public school with 457 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFTON-LAKELAND ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 457 | 17.6 |
Towns near Lakeland
- Hudson, WI1.9 mi · 14,755 people · home $392,700
- Lake St. Croix Beach, MN2.0 mi · 1,043 people · home $363,800
- West Lakeland, MN2.9 mi · 3,976 people · home $709,300
- North Hudson, WI3.0 mi · 3,803 people · home $385,300
- Bayport, MN4.3 mi · 4,024 people · home $376,900
- Afton, MN4.6 mi · 2,955 people · home $679,300
- Baytown, MN4.8 mi · 2,088 people · home $795,100
- Hudson, WI5.0 mi · 8,671 people · home $507,000
Lakeland questions
Is Lakeland, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakeland scores better for retirees than 71% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 29%. 27.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.2).
How much does a house cost in Lakeland?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakeland is valued at $373,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,132, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,668 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakeland?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 47.5 inches of snow.
Does Lakeland get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 24, 1958. 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)