The Town FilesStephen, Minnesota
City in Marshall County · population 592 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,500
- Household income
- $71,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- -5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 51.6
Stephen is a city of 592 people in Marshall County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $87,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 85% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 78% of Minnesota towns.
- #5 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Minnesota
- #12 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota
- #14 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Minnesota
- #16 in 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Cheapest Homes
- #23 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Minnesota
How Stephen 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 Stephen is worth $87,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $71,250, which is more affordable than 100% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stephen | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $991 |
| Median household income | $71,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Stephen
| People | Stephen | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Stephen
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows -4.6°F. About 22.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stephen since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 17, 2020 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 17, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 21, 1962.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 30 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 |
| July 13, 2022 | Flood | DR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Marshall County
Marshall County had 2,435 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,634 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Stephen itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Stephen
1 public school with 123 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN SENIOR HIGH | 7-12 | 123 | 15.4 |
Towns near Stephen
- Argyle, MN8.5 mi · 544 people · home $191,800
- Drayton, ND15.8 mi · 757 people · home $107,500
- Warren, MN18.5 mi · 1,605 people · home $148,400
- Karlstad, MN18.6 mi · 710 people · home $126,300
- Hallock, MN21.8 mi · 906 people · home $140,000
- Grafton, ND24.4 mi · 4,170 people · home $147,300
- Minto, ND25.3 mi · 616 people · home $109,300
Stephen questions
Is Stephen, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stephen scores better for retirees than 78% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 85%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Stephen?
The median owner-occupied home in Stephen is valued at $87,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,250, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Stephen?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows -4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.9 inches of precipitation a year and 43.6 inches of snow.
Does Stephen get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stephen 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)