The Town FilesRanier, Minnesota
City in Koochiching County · population 569 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,300
- Household income
- $87,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- -6° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 73 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 50.8
Ranier is a city of 569 people in Koochiching County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $178,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 92% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 88% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 87% of Minnesota towns.
How Ranier 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 Ranier is worth $178,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $87,375, which is more affordable than 94% of Minnesota towns. 91.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ranier | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $87,375 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 91.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.0% | — |
Who lives in Ranier
| People | Ranier | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 10.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Ranier
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows -5.8°F. About 25.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 73.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 200 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ranier since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 1, 1973 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 1, 1973.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 15, 1998.
Severe weather in Koochiching County since 1996
Koochiching County has been included in 12 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 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Koochiching County
Koochiching County had 4,246 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,827 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Ranier itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Ranier
- International Falls, MN2.6 mi · 5,802 people · home $120,400
- Littlefork, MN17.0 mi · 553 people · home $150,800
Ranier questions
Is Ranier, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ranier scores better for retirees than 13% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 30%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.8).
How much does a house cost in Ranier?
The median owner-occupied home in Ranier is valued at $178,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,375, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Ranier?
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows -5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.4 inches of precipitation a year and 73.0 inches of snow.
Does Ranier get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ranier since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 1, 1973. 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)