The Town FilesScandia, Minnesota
City in Washington County · population 3,984 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $475,800
- Household income
- $101,953
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 46.0
Scandia is a city of 3,984 people in Washington County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $475,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 90% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Scandia 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 Scandia is worth $475,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $101,953, which is more affordable than 7% of Minnesota towns. 88.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scandia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $475,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $101,953 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 88.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.2% | — |
Who lives in Scandia
| People | Scandia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Scandia
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.0°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scandia since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 25, 2008 about 7.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 1, 2001.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 95,625 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Scandia itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Scandia
1 public school with 321 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scandia Elementary | PK-6 | 321 | 17.8 |
Towns near Scandia
- May, MN6.0 mi · 2,670 people · home $685,700
- Forest Lake, MN6.5 mi · 20,611 people · home $393,500
- Osceola, WI8.2 mi · 2,765 people · home $230,600
- Hugo, MN8.6 mi · 15,766 people · home $408,900
- Wyoming, MN9.0 mi · 8,032 people · home $365,700
- Chisago City, MN9.3 mi · 5,558 people · home $413,000
- Lindstrom, MN9.3 mi · 4,888 people · home $358,100
- Somerset, WI9.7 mi · 4,291 people · home $464,800
Scandia questions
Is Scandia, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scandia scores better for retirees than 98% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 55%. 27.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Scandia?
The median owner-occupied home in Scandia is valued at $475,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,953, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Scandia?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 51.6 inches of snow.
Does Scandia get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scandia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 25, 2008. 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)