The Town FilesSt. James, Minnesota
City in Watonwan County · population 4,793 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,100
- Household income
- $60,242
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 37.6
St. James is a city of 4,793 people in Watonwan County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $122,100, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 98% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 92% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 89% of Minnesota towns.
How St. James 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 St. James is worth $122,100, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $60,242, which is more affordable than 94% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 66.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. James | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $839 | $991 |
| Median household income | $60,242 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in St. James
| People | St. James | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in St. James
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 5.2°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. James since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 1, 2006 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 16, 1963.
Severe weather in Watonwan County since 1996
Watonwan County has been included in 13 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 Watonwan County
Watonwan County had 4,510 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,323 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in St. James itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in St. James
4 public schools with 1,150 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. James Middle/High School | 6-12 | 581 | 14.9 |
| ST. JAMES NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 492 | 14.5 |
| Armstrong School | PK-PK | 67 | 33.5 |
| ST. JAMES EARLY CHILDHOOD | PK-PK | 10 | 10.0 |
Towns near St. James
- Lake Crystal, MN21.9 mi · 2,539 people · home $204,400
- Sleepy Eye, MN22.3 mi · 3,452 people · home $147,600
- New Ulm, MN24.0 mi · 14,120 people · home $204,200
- Fairmont, MN24.7 mi · 10,487 people · home $169,900
- Windom, MN25.7 mi · 4,798 people · home $169,700
St. James questions
Is St. James, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. James scores better for retirees than 21% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 19%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in St. James?
The median owner-occupied home in St. James is valued at $122,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,242, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in St. James?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 5.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 50.3 inches of snow.
Does St. James get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. James since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 1, 2006. 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)