The Town FilesMoscow, Minnesota
Township in Freeborn County · population 538 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,800
- Household income
- $87,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 47.7
Moscow is a township of 538 people in Freeborn County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $202,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Moscow 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 Moscow is worth $202,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $87,143, which is more affordable than 89% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 93.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Moscow | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $900 | $991 |
| Median household income | $87,143 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Moscow
| People | Moscow | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Moscow
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 5.4°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moscow since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1967 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 48 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 17, 2009.
Severe weather in Freeborn County since 1996
Freeborn County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Freeborn County
Freeborn County had 11,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,099 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Moscow itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Moscow
- Lansing, MN5.7 mi · 906 people · home $265,400
- Austin, MN7.5 mi · 26,174 people · home $163,900
- Austin, MN9.1 mi · 881 people · home $229,800
- Geneva, MN10.5 mi · 508 people · home $182,500
- Blooming Prairie, MN10.7 mi · 1,974 people · home $161,300
- Clarks Grove, MN11.1 mi · 694 people · home $123,400
- Bancroft, MN11.6 mi · 792 people · home $260,300
- Red Rock, MN12.2 mi · 723 people · home $319,400
Moscow questions
Is Moscow, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Moscow scores better for retirees than 40% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 64%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.7).
How much does a house cost in Moscow?
The median owner-occupied home in Moscow is valued at $202,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,143, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Moscow?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 5.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Moscow get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moscow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1967. 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)