The Town FilesLong Prairie, Minnesota
City in Todd County · population 3,661 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,000
- Household income
- $58,786
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 37.5
Long Prairie is a city of 3,661 people in Todd County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $152,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better transit than 91% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 87% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Long Prairie 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 Long Prairie is worth $152,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $58,786, which is more affordable than 82% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,033 a month. 65.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Long Prairie | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,033 | $991 |
| Median household income | $58,786 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 65.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Long Prairie
| People | Long Prairie | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Long Prairie
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows -0.9°F. About 31.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Long Prairie since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 20, 2017 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 20, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 2024.
Severe weather in Todd County since 1996
Todd County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Todd County
Todd County had 7,081 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,332 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Long Prairie itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Long Prairie
2 public schools with 984 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Elementary | PK-6 | 511 | 11.1 |
| Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Secondary | 7-12 | 473 | 13.9 |
Towns near Long Prairie
- Sauk Centre, MN17.0 mi · 4,555 people · home $225,700
- Melrose, MN20.7 mi · 3,602 people · home $207,200
- Little Falls, MN24.1 mi · 9,140 people · home $202,600
- Alexandria, MN25.7 mi · 14,335 people · home $275,300
- Staples, MN27.5 mi · 2,989 people · home $130,000
- Albany, MN28.0 mi · 2,780 people · home $238,500
- La Grand, MN29.2 mi · 4,279 people · home $384,600
Long Prairie questions
Is Long Prairie, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Long Prairie scores better for retirees than 63% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 20%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Long Prairie?
The median owner-occupied home in Long Prairie is valued at $152,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,786, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,033 a month.
What is the weather like in Long Prairie?
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows -0.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.0 inches of precipitation a year and 54.0 inches of snow.
Does Long Prairie get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Long Prairie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 20, 2017. 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)