The Town FilesMcIntosh, Minnesota
City in Polk County · population 606 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,600
- Household income
- $56,944
- Jan low / Jul high
- -5° / 78°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 31.8
McIntosh is a city of 606 people in Polk County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $103,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 94% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 83% of Minnesota towns.
How McIntosh 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 McIntosh is worth $103,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $56,944, which is more affordable than 97% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $591 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | McIntosh | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $591 | $991 |
| Median household income | $56,944 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McIntosh
| People | McIntosh | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in McIntosh
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows -5.2°F. About 26.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McIntosh since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 29, 2018 about 5.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 26, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 1999.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Flood | DR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, 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 Polk County
Polk County had 12,036 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,723 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in McIntosh itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near McIntosh
- Knute, MN5.6 mi · 563 people · home $291,700
- Fosston, MN7.2 mi · 1,434 people · home $151,700
- Woodside, MN11.4 mi · 512 people · home $530,400
- Garfield, MN17.9 mi · 519 people · home $247,300
- Popple, MN19.8 mi · 535 people · home $239,500
- Fertile, MN19.8 mi · 804 people · home $129,500
- Mahnomen, MN22.6 mi · 1,240 people · home $83,200
- Bagley, MN23.9 mi · 1,285 people · home $138,600
McIntosh questions
Is McIntosh, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McIntosh scores better for retirees than 94% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 69%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.8).
How much does a house cost in McIntosh?
The median owner-occupied home in McIntosh is valued at $103,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,944, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $591 a month.
What is the weather like in McIntosh?
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows -5.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does McIntosh get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McIntosh since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 29, 2018. 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)