The Town FilesNessel, Minnesota
Township in Chisago County · population 1,907 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $413,300
- Household income
- $86,290
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 48.6
Nessel is a township of 1,907 people in Chisago County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $413,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 90% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 78% of Minnesota towns.
How Nessel 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 Nessel is worth $413,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $86,290, which is more affordable than 6% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,886 a month. 92.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nessel | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $413,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,886 | $991 |
| Median household income | $86,290 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.7% | — |
Who lives in Nessel
| People | Nessel | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 13.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 20.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Nessel
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 3.6°F. About 29.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nessel since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 21, 1957 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 20, 2007.
Severe weather in Chisago County since 1996
Chisago County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Chisago County
Chisago County had 16,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,806 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Nessel itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Towns near Nessel
- Rush City, MN4.7 mi · 3,228 people · home $233,100
- Fish Lake, MN5.7 mi · 2,193 people · home $400,200
- Braham, MN6.0 mi · 1,769 people · home $196,800
- Royalton, MN6.0 mi · 1,034 people · home $287,500
- Rushseba, MN6.3 mi · 815 people · home $300,800
- Harris, MN6.8 mi · 1,111 people · home $306,000
- Stanchfield, MN7.6 mi · 1,168 people · home $329,500
- Cambridge, MN8.2 mi · 2,495 people · home $372,800
Nessel questions
Is Nessel, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nessel scores better for retirees than 34% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 90%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Nessel?
The median owner-occupied home in Nessel is valued at $413,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,290, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,886 a month.
What is the weather like in Nessel?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 3.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.7 inches of precipitation a year and 47.3 inches of snow.
Does Nessel get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nessel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 21, 1957. 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)