The Town FilesShafer, Minnesota
City in Chisago County · population 1,142 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $242,800
- Household income
- $99,489
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 34.0
Shafer is a city of 1,142 people in Chisago County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $242,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 80% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 78% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 76% of Minnesota towns.
How Shafer 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 Shafer is worth $242,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $99,489, which is more affordable than 86% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $966 a month. 84.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shafer | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $966 | $991 |
| Median household income | $99,489 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 84.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shafer
| People | Shafer | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 39.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Shafer
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 2.7°F. About 30.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shafer since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 23, 1952 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 3, 1981.
Severe weather in Chisago County since 1996
Chisago County has been included in 12 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 |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Chisago County
Chisago County had 16,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,806 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Shafer itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Towns near Shafer
- Chisago Lake, MN2.9 mi · 4,818 people · home $437,700
- Center City, MN2.9 mi · 629 people · home $362,000
- Franconia, MN3.3 mi · 1,713 people · home $431,900
- Shafer, MN3.5 mi · 1,131 people · home $408,600
- Lindstrom, MN4.2 mi · 4,888 people · home $358,100
- Taylors Falls, MN4.2 mi · 1,055 people · home $275,200
- Osceola, WI5.8 mi · 2,765 people · home $230,600
- Dresser, WI6.3 mi · 935 people · home $196,100
Shafer questions
Is Shafer, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shafer scores better for retirees than 18% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 51%. 9.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Shafer?
The median owner-occupied home in Shafer is valued at $242,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,489, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $966 a month.
What is the weather like in Shafer?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 2.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42.6 inches of snow.
Does Shafer get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shafer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 23, 1952. 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)