The Town FilesSlayton, Minnesota
City in Murray County · population 2,013 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,700
- Household income
- $62,344
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 39.9
Slayton is a city of 2,013 people in Murray County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $161,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 83% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Minnesota towns.
How Slayton 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 Slayton is worth $161,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $62,344, which is more affordable than 82% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $752 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Slayton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $752 | $991 |
| Median household income | $62,344 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Slayton
| People | Slayton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Slayton
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 30.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Slayton since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 16, 1992 about 4.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 29, 1998.
Severe weather in Murray County since 1996
Murray County has been included in 17 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Murray County
Murray County had 2,914 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,046 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Slayton itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Slayton
4 public schools with 701 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Elementary | PK-6 | 391 | 14.0 |
| Murray County Central High School | 7-12 | 310 | 15.5 |
| Murray County Central Elementary | PK-1 | — | — |
| Out-of-State Care and Treatment | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Slayton
- The Lakes, MN9.0 mi · 590 people · home $397,100
- Fulda, MN11.4 mi · 1,371 people · home $164,700
- Westbrook, MN16.3 mi · 758 people · home $78,200
- Balaton, MN17.7 mi · 595 people · home $94,000
- Tracy, MN18.6 mi · 2,076 people · home $113,400
- Edgerton, MN20.1 mi · 1,258 people · home $132,100
- Walnut Grove, MN21.7 mi · 751 people · home $90,000
- Brewster, MN25.0 mi · 506 people · home $152,200
Slayton questions
Is Slayton, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Slayton scores better for retirees than 92% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 59%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Slayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Slayton is valued at $161,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,344, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $752 a month.
What is the weather like in Slayton?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 46.9 inches of snow.
Does Slayton get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Slayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 16, 1992. 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)