The Town FilesMoose Lake, Minnesota
City in Carlton County · population 2,789 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,000
- Household income
- $64,286
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 43.8
Moose Lake is a city of 2,789 people in Carlton County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $205,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 82% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 80% of Minnesota towns.
How Moose 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 Moose Lake is worth $205,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $64,286, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $907 a month. 62.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Moose Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $907 | $991 |
| Median household income | $64,286 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Moose Lake
| People | Moose Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 4.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 51.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Moose Lake
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 0.7°F. About 31.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moose Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 7, 1970 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 30, 2022.
Severe weather in Carlton County since 1996
Carlton County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Carlton County
Carlton County had 13,269 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,073 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Moose Lake itself the ACS puts it at 12.1%.
Public schools in Moose Lake
3 public schools with 591 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOOSE LAKE ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 304 | 12.7 |
| MOOSE LAKE SECONDARY | 7-12 | 283 | 15.7 |
| MCF-MOOSE LAKE/WILLOW RIVER | 9-12 | 4 | — |
Towns near Moose Lake
- Cloquet, MN22.6 mi · 12,568 people · home $212,700
- Thomson, MN26.3 mi · 5,465 people · home $339,000
Moose Lake questions
Is Moose Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Moose Lake scores better for retirees than 63% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 15%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Moose Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Moose Lake is valued at $205,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,286, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $907 a month.
What is the weather like in Moose Lake?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 0.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.5 inches of precipitation a year and 64.4 inches of snow.
Does Moose Lake get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moose Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 7, 1970. 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)