The Town FilesSilver Lake, Minnesota
City in McLeod County · population 866 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,600
- Household income
- $74,432
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 43.7
Silver Lake is a city of 866 people in McLeod County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $202,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 85% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 82% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 75% of Minnesota towns.
How Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake is worth $202,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $74,432, which is more affordable than 79% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $844 a month. 80.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Silver Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $844 | $991 |
| Median household income | $74,432 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 80.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Silver Lake
| People | Silver Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Silver Lake
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 29.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Silver Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 19, 1951 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 84 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 11, 2023.
Severe weather in McLeod County since 1996
McLeod County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms 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 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in McLeod County
McLeod County had 15,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,991 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Silver Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Silver Lake
1 public school with 412 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKESIDE ELEMENTARY | 3-6 | 412 | 15.3 |
Towns near Silver Lake
- Hale, MN1.9 mi · 917 people · home $302,300
- Rich Valley, MN3.3 mi · 669 people · home $305,500
- Hutchinson, MN5.8 mi · 1,215 people · home $403,200
- Winsted, MN6.4 mi · 936 people · home $428,600
- Hassan Valley, MN7.0 mi · 643 people · home $319,300
- Bergen, MN7.8 mi · 910 people · home $389,200
- Lester Prairie, MN8.0 mi · 1,894 people · home $237,400
- Winsted, MN8.2 mi · 2,240 people · home $201,900
Silver Lake questions
Is Silver Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Silver Lake scores better for retirees than 26% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 33%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Silver Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Silver Lake is valued at $202,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,432, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $844 a month.
What is the weather like in Silver Lake?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.8 inches of precipitation a year and 44.3 inches of snow.
Does Silver Lake get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Silver Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 19, 1951. 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)