The Town FilesSouth Harbor, Minnesota
Township in Mille Lacs County · population 836 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $329,800
- Household income
- $68,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 51.9
South Harbor is a township of 836 people in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $329,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of Minnesota towns.
How South Harbor 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 Harbor is worth $329,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $68,250, which is more affordable than 6% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $928 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Harbor | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $329,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $928 | $991 |
| Median household income | $68,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 46.1% | — |
Who lives in South Harbor
| People | South Harbor | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in South Harbor
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows -0.5°F. About 28.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Harbor since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 18, 1997 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Mille Lacs County since 1996
Mille Lacs County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Mille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County had 9,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,582 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in South Harbor itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Towns near South Harbor
- Isle Harbor, MN4.8 mi · 557 people · home $263,100
- Onamia, MN5.3 mi · 784 people · home $122,900
- Isle, MN6.8 mi · 803 people · home $237,500
- East Side, MN7.0 mi · 650 people · home $242,900
- Kathio, MN7.0 mi · 1,507 people · home $219,100
- Onamia, MN8.0 mi · 580 people · home $243,400
- Vineland, MN9.5 mi · 869 people · home $154,000
- Lakeside, MN10.9 mi · 504 people · home $363,200
South Harbor questions
Is South Harbor, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Harbor scores better for retirees than 6% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 67%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.9).
How much does a house cost in South Harbor?
The median owner-occupied home in South Harbor is valued at $329,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,250, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $928 a month.
What is the weather like in South Harbor?
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows -0.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.8 inches of precipitation a year and 31.6 inches of snow.
Does South Harbor get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Harbor since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 18, 1997. 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)