The Town FilesOnamia, Minnesota
City in Mille Lacs County · population 784 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,900
- Household income
- $32,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 45.9
Onamia is a city of 784 people in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $122,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 84% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 79% of Minnesota towns.
How Onamia 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 Onamia is worth $122,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $32,750, which is more affordable than 30% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $656 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onamia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $656 | $991 |
| Median household income | $32,750 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Onamia
| People | Onamia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Onamia
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows -0.5°F. About 28.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onamia since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 18, 1997 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Mille Lacs County since 1996
Mille Lacs County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Mille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County had 9,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,582 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Onamia itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Onamia
6 public schools with 585 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onamia High School | 7-12 | 236 | 21.5 |
| Onamia Primary School | PK-2 | 144 | 8.0 |
| Onamia Elementary School | 3-6 | 117 | 7.8 |
| Onamia Academy | 4-12 | 45 | 7.5 |
| KOKESH AREA LEARNING CENTER | 9-12 | 40 | — |
| SUCCESS | 7-9 | 3 | — |
Towns near Onamia
- Onamia, MN3.9 mi · 580 people · home $243,400
- South Harbor, MN5.3 mi · 836 people · home $329,800
- Kathio, MN8.1 mi · 1,507 people · home $219,100
- Isle Harbor, MN8.6 mi · 557 people · home $263,100
- Vineland, MN9.3 mi · 869 people · home $154,000
- Richardson, MN9.9 mi · 513 people · home $310,300
- Isle, MN11.2 mi · 803 people · home $237,500
- East Side, MN12.3 mi · 650 people · home $242,900
Onamia questions
Is Onamia, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onamia scores better for retirees than 10% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 28%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Onamia?
The median owner-occupied home in Onamia is valued at $122,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,750, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $656 a month.
What is the weather like in Onamia?
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows -0.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.8 inches of precipitation a year and 31.6 inches of snow.
Does Onamia get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onamia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 18, 1997. 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)