The Town FilesMadison Lake, Minnesota
City in Blue Earth County · population 1,247 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $303,100
- Household income
- $87,727
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 40.0
Madison Lake is a city of 1,247 people in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $303,100, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 87% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 86% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 73% of Minnesota towns.
How Madison Lake 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 Madison Lake is worth $303,100, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $87,727, which is more affordable than 45% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $596 a month. 68.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $303,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $596 | $991 |
| Median household income | $87,727 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.8% | — |
Who lives in Madison Lake
| People | Madison Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Madison Lake
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 5.7°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 14, 2003 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 21, 2025.
Severe weather in Blue Earth County since 1996
Blue Earth County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Blue Earth County
Blue Earth County had 41,255 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,997 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Madison Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Madison Lake
- Jamestown, MN0.9 mi · 679 people · home $447,600
- Washington, MN3.7 mi · 778 people · home $489,400
- Le Ray, MN4.0 mi · 760 people · home $394,100
- Eagle Lake, MN4.4 mi · 3,278 people · home $276,500
- Elysian, MN5.8 mi · 1,017 people · home $392,200
- Lime, MN6.7 mi · 946 people · home $423,500
- Elysian, MN6.8 mi · 708 people · home $285,400
- Janesville, MN7.2 mi · 576 people · home $332,200
Madison Lake questions
Is Madison Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison Lake scores better for retirees than 57% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 24%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Madison Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison Lake is valued at $303,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,727, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $596 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison Lake?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 5.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 40.4 inches of snow.
Does Madison Lake get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 14, 2003. 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)