The Town FilesNorth Oaks, Minnesota
City in Ramsey County · population 5,272 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $821,200
- Household income
- $231,742
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 43.1
North Oaks is a city of 5,272 people in Ramsey County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $821,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 100% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Minnesota towns.
How North Oaks 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 North Oaks is worth $821,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $231,742, which is more affordable than 45% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $3,501 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Oaks | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $821,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $991 |
| Median household income | $231,742 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in North Oaks
| People | North Oaks | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 74.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 39.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in North Oaks
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Oaks since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 6.5 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 490 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 223 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 11, 1963.
Severe weather in Ramsey County since 1996
Ramsey County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ramsey County
Ramsey County had 325,226 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,908 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in North Oaks itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in North Oaks
1 public school with 1,081 students, about 20.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Middle School | 6-8 | 1,081 | 20.4 |
Towns near North Oaks
- Shoreview, MN2.4 mi · 26,921 people · home $383,700
- Lino Lakes, MN3.5 mi · 21,399 people · home $407,200
- Circle Pines, MN3.5 mi · 5,025 people · home $293,600
- Vadnais Heights, MN3.7 mi · 12,912 people · home $363,100
- White Bear, MN3.7 mi · 11,049 people · home $386,300
- Arden Hills, MN3.9 mi · 9,939 people · home $441,900
- Centerville, MN4.9 mi · 3,896 people · home $376,900
- White Bear Lake, MN5.1 mi · 24,883 people · home $331,800
North Oaks questions
Is North Oaks, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Oaks scores better for retirees than 100% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 21%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in North Oaks?
The median owner-occupied home in North Oaks is valued at $821,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $231,742, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $3,501 a month.
What is the weather like in North Oaks?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 40.4 inches of snow.
Does North Oaks get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Oaks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. 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)