The Town FilesMadelia, Minnesota
City in Watonwan County · population 2,396 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,400
- Household income
- $76,548
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 34.1
Madelia is a city of 2,396 people in Watonwan County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $165,400, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 82% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Minnesota towns.
How Madelia 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 Madelia is worth $165,400, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $76,548, which is more affordable than 91% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $833 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madelia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $833 | $991 |
| Median household income | $76,548 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Madelia
| People | Madelia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Madelia
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 5.2°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madelia since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 18, 1962 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2026.
Severe weather in Watonwan County since 1996
Watonwan County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Watonwan County
Watonwan County had 4,510 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,323 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Madelia itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Madelia
2 public schools with 633 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MADELIA ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 344 | 13.2 |
| MADELIA SECONDARY | 7-12 | 289 | 14.5 |
Towns near Madelia
- Lake Crystal, MN10.7 mi · 2,539 people · home $204,400
- St. James, MN11.1 mi · 4,793 people · home $122,100
- Garden City, MN11.3 mi · 844 people · home $280,900
- Cottonwood, MN13.1 mi · 856 people · home $246,500
- Judson, MN13.4 mi · 534 people · home $264,100
- Truman, MN15.2 mi · 1,092 people · home $106,400
- Courtland, MN16.2 mi · 734 people · home $275,600
- Amboy, MN17.1 mi · 535 people · home $134,400
Madelia questions
Is Madelia, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madelia scores better for retirees than 50% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 28%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Madelia?
The median owner-occupied home in Madelia is valued at $165,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,548, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $833 a month.
What is the weather like in Madelia?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 5.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 46.0 inches of snow.
Does Madelia get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madelia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 18, 1962. 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)