The Town FilesNisswa, Minnesota
City in Crow Wing County · population 1,967 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $481,200
- Household income
- $100,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 54.7
Nisswa is a city of 1,967 people in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $481,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 96% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 93% of Minnesota towns.
How Nisswa 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 Nisswa is worth $481,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $100,000, which is more affordable than 6% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $867 a month. 94.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nisswa | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $481,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $867 | $991 |
| Median household income | $100,000 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 94.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 40.8% | — |
Who lives in Nisswa
| People | Nisswa | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Nisswa
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows -1.2°F. About 27.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nisswa since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 11, 1966 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 19, 2016.
Severe weather in Crow Wing County since 1996
Crow Wing County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County had 31,053 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,044 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Nisswa itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Nisswa
1 public school with 255 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NISSWA ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 255 | 12.8 |
Towns near Nisswa
- Lake Shore, MN3.3 mi · 1,056 people · home $513,200
- Lake Edward, MN4.1 mi · 2,108 people · home $386,400
- Pequot Lakes, MN6.1 mi · 2,395 people · home $289,300
- Loon Lake, MN7.1 mi · 626 people · home $371,300
- East Gull Lake, MN7.8 mi · 986 people · home $553,700
- Pelican, MN7.8 mi · 501 people · home $458,300
- Breezy Point, MN8.6 mi · 2,574 people · home $340,800
- Center, MN8.8 mi · 990 people · home $339,100
Nisswa questions
Is Nisswa, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nisswa scores better for retirees than 96% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 93%. 27.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.7).
How much does a house cost in Nisswa?
The median owner-occupied home in Nisswa is valued at $481,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,000, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $867 a month.
What is the weather like in Nisswa?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows -1.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.1 inches of precipitation a year and 44.7 inches of snow.
Does Nisswa get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nisswa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 11, 1966. 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)