The Town FilesSouth Fork, Minnesota
Township in Kanabec County · population 768 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $324,600
- Household income
- $98,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 43.2
South Fork is a township of 768 people in Kanabec County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $324,600, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 88% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of Minnesota towns.
How South Fork 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 South Fork is worth $324,600, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $98,750, which is more affordable than 55% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,417 a month. 90.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Fork | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $324,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,417 | $991 |
| Median household income | $98,750 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 90.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in South Fork
| People | South Fork | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in South Fork
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 0.5°F. About 30.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Fork since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 17, 2020 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 17, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.20 inches on May 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Kanabec County since 1996
Kanabec County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Kanabec County
Kanabec County had 4,221 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,717 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in South Fork itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near South Fork
- Dalbo, MN5.5 mi · 781 people · home $335,300
- Borgholm, MN5.6 mi · 1,831 people · home $269,300
- Brunswick, MN6.7 mi · 1,320 people · home $231,700
- Kanabec, MN7.5 mi · 854 people · home $293,800
- Bogus Brook, MN7.7 mi · 1,470 people · home $309,900
- Hayland, MN8.1 mi · 522 people · home $332,800
- Maple Ridge, MN8.6 mi · 715 people · home $328,300
- Arthur, MN9.3 mi · 1,771 people · home $233,000
South Fork questions
Is South Fork, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Fork scores better for retirees than 12% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 88%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in South Fork?
The median owner-occupied home in South Fork is valued at $324,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,750, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,417 a month.
What is the weather like in South Fork?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 0.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49.6 inches of snow.
Does South Fork get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Fork since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 17, 2020. 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)