The Town FilesMinden, Minnesota
Township in Benton County · population 1,514 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $297,300
- Household income
- $76,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 49.9
Minden is a township of 1,514 people in Benton County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $297,300, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 77% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 76% of Minnesota towns.
How Minden 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 Minden is worth $297,300, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $76,250, which is more affordable than 26% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,731 a month. 83.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Minden | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $297,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,731 | $991 |
| Median household income | $76,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 83.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Minden
| People | Minden | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 25.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Minden
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 2.9°F. About 28.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Minden since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 3, 1980 about 4.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 26, 2019.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 17,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,955 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Minden itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Minden
- Sauk Rapids, MN4.5 mi · 13,862 people · home $256,100
- St. George, MN5.3 mi · 1,273 people · home $398,400
- Mayhew Lake, MN5.7 mi · 865 people · home $400,000
- Haven, MN6.6 mi · 2,610 people · home $346,800
- Sartell, MN7.2 mi · 19,351 people · home $297,300
- Watab, MN7.6 mi · 3,402 people · home $318,200
- Gilmanton, MN7.8 mi · 849 people · home $399,000
- St. Cloud, MN7.9 mi · 68,881 people · home $225,000
Minden questions
Is Minden, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Minden scores better for retirees than 9% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 17%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.9).
How much does a house cost in Minden?
The median owner-occupied home in Minden is valued at $297,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,250, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,731 a month.
What is the weather like in Minden?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 2.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.9 inches of snow.
Does Minden get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Minden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 3, 1980. 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)