The Town FilesRed Lake Falls, Minnesota
City in Red Lake County · population 1,339 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,300
- Household income
- $64,342
- Jan low / Jul high
- -3° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 42.3
Red Lake Falls is a city of 1,339 people in Red Lake County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $139,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 80% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 78% of Minnesota towns.
How Red Lake Falls 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 Red Lake Falls is worth $139,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $64,342, which is more affordable than 91% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $511 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Lake Falls | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $511 | $991 |
| Median household income | $64,342 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Red Lake Falls
| People | Red Lake Falls | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Red Lake Falls
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows -2.9°F. About 24.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Lake Falls since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 17, 2010 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 19, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 15, 1956.
Severe weather in Red Lake County since 1996
Red Lake County has been included in 23 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 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Red Lake County
Red Lake County had 985 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,602 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Red Lake Falls itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Red Lake Falls
3 public schools with 389 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.A. HUGHES ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 213 | 9.3 |
| LAFAYETTE SECONDARY | 7-12 | 176 | 12.6 |
| PINE TO PRAIRIE COOP. CTR. | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Red Lake Falls
- Rocksbury, MN13.1 mi · 1,102 people · home $231,600
- Smiley, MN16.2 mi · 620 people · home $271,400
- Thief River Falls, MN16.3 mi · 8,749 people · home $175,400
- Crookston, MN17.2 mi · 7,482 people · home $185,600
- North, MN18.4 mi · 761 people · home $254,500
- Woodside, MN18.7 mi · 512 people · home $530,400
- Knute, MN21.9 mi · 563 people · home $291,700
- Garfield, MN23.3 mi · 519 people · home $247,300
Red Lake Falls questions
Is Red Lake Falls, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Lake Falls scores better for retirees than 78% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 68%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Red Lake Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Lake Falls is valued at $139,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,342, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $511 a month.
What is the weather like in Red Lake Falls?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows -2.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.3 inches of precipitation a year and 49.9 inches of snow.
Does Red Lake Falls get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Lake Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 17, 2010. 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)