The Town FilesPopple, Minnesota
Township in Clearwater County · population 535 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,500
- Household income
- $91,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- -5° / 78°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 50.6
Popple is a township of 535 people in Clearwater County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $239,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 91% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns.
How Popple 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 Popple is worth $239,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $91,563, which is more affordable than 82% of Minnesota towns. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Popple | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $91,563 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.0% | — |
Who lives in Popple
| People | Popple | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Popple
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows -5.2°F. About 26.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Popple since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 29, 2018 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 23, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 21, 1971.
Severe weather in Clearwater County since 1996
Clearwater County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Flood | DR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clearwater County
Clearwater County had 2,536 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,036 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Popple itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Towns near Popple
- Bagley, MN4.1 mi · 1,285 people · home $138,600
- Copley, MN6.3 mi · 867 people · home $188,000
- Fosston, MN12.7 mi · 1,434 people · home $151,700
- Lammers, MN17.5 mi · 602 people · home $277,300
- Twin Lakes, MN18.4 mi · 727 people · home $121,500
- Naytahwaush, MN19.6 mi · 504 people · home $88,800
- McIntosh, MN19.8 mi · 606 people · home $103,600
- Eckles, MN22.6 mi · 2,014 people · home $227,400
Popple questions
Is Popple, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Popple scores better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 44%. 29.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Popple?
The median owner-occupied home in Popple is valued at $239,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,563, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Popple?
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows -5.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Popple get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Popple since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 29, 2018. 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)