The Town FilesNorton, Minnesota
Township in Winona County · population 523 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $405,000
- Household income
- $96,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 51.7
Norton is a township of 523 people in Winona County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $405,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for families than 91% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 74% of Minnesota towns.
How Norton 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 Norton is worth $405,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $96,875, which is more affordable than 18% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $769 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $405,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $769 | $991 |
| Median household income | $96,875 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.3% | — |
Who lives in Norton
| People | Norton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 19.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Norton
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 7.9°F. About 35.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norton since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 13, 2023.
Severe weather in Winona County since 1996
Winona County has been included in 17 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 |
| October 13, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1941: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 23, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1717: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Winona County
Winona County had 24,022 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,828 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Norton itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Towns near Norton
- Rollingstone, MN4.5 mi · 678 people · home $239,400
- Lewiston, MN5.7 mi · 1,533 people · home $213,600
- Hillsdale, MN5.8 mi · 779 people · home —
- Utica, MN6.0 mi · 574 people · home $321,400
- Rollingstone, MN6.1 mi · 759 people · home $229,300
- Stockton, MN6.7 mi · 809 people · home $258,100
- Warren, MN8.3 mi · 586 people · home $304,700
- St. Charles, MN8.4 mi · 651 people · home $482,300
Norton questions
Is Norton, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norton scores better for retirees than 60% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 74%. 27.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.7).
How much does a house cost in Norton?
The median owner-occupied home in Norton is valued at $405,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,875, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $769 a month.
What is the weather like in Norton?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 7.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 44.9 inches of snow.
Does Norton get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. 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)