The Town FilesRuneberg, Minnesota
Township in Becker County · population 639 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,700
- Household income
- $83,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- -3° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 26.9
Runeberg is a township of 639 people in Becker County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $241,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 89% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 79% of Minnesota towns.
How Runeberg 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 Runeberg is worth $241,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $83,750, which is more affordable than 74% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,078 a month. 90.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Runeberg | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,078 | $991 |
| Median household income | $83,750 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 90.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.6% | — |
Who lives in Runeberg
| People | Runeberg | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 43.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Runeberg
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows -2.8°F. About 23.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Runeberg since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 17, 2010 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 24, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 27, 2007.
Severe weather in Becker County since 1996
Becker County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 5, 2006 | Flood | DR-1648: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Becker County
Becker County had 15,120 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,242 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Runeberg itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Runeberg
- Menahga, MN6.5 mi · 1,340 people · home $155,500
- Blueberry, MN6.7 mi · 828 people · home $266,000
- Straight River, MN8.5 mi · 788 people · home $248,800
- Red Eye, MN8.7 mi · 506 people · home $236,100
- Sebeka, MN11.3 mi · 741 people · home $84,300
- Osage, MN12.0 mi · 885 people · home $273,900
- Corliss, MN12.1 mi · 625 people · home $350,000
- Park Rapids, MN14.1 mi · 4,142 people · home $227,500
Runeberg questions
Is Runeberg, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Runeberg scores better for retirees than 21% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 49%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.9).
How much does a house cost in Runeberg?
The median owner-occupied home in Runeberg is valued at $241,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,750, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,078 a month.
What is the weather like in Runeberg?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows -2.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.9 inches of precipitation a year and 45.6 inches of snow.
Does Runeberg get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Runeberg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)