The Town FilesStillwater, Minnesota
City in Washington County · population 19,394 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $414,200
- Household income
- $105,853
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 42.5
Stillwater is a city of 19,394 people in Washington County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $414,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 92% of Minnesota towns.
How Stillwater 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 Stillwater is worth $414,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $105,853, which is more affordable than 26% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,622 a month. 76.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stillwater | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $414,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,622 | $991 |
| Median household income | $105,853 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 76.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Stillwater
| People | Stillwater | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 21.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Stillwater
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stillwater since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 25, 2008 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 12, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on August 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 95,625 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Stillwater itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Stillwater
21 public schools with 7,509 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,713 | 26.6 |
| Stillwater Middle School | 6-8 | 925 | 22.0 |
| WILDWOOD ELEMENTARY | K-2 | 584 | 13.6 |
| RUTHERFORD ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 560 | 16.5 |
| ST. CROIX PREPARATORY ACADEMY LOWER (charter) | K-4 | 452 | 17.4 |
| STONEBRIDGE ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 432 | 17.3 |
| LILY LAKE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 417 | 13.0 |
| St. Croix Prep Academy Middle (charter) | 5-8 | 375 | 16.3 |
| ST. CROIX PREPARATORY ACADEMY UPPER (charter) | 9-12 | 375 | 12.5 |
| STILLWATER SPECIAL SERVICES-ECSE | PK-PK | 222 | 14.8 |
| Marine Area Community School (charter) | K-6 | 126 | 9.7 |
| ST CROIX VALLEY AREA LEARNING CNTR. | 7-12 | 79 | 15.8 |
Towns near Stillwater
- Oak Park Heights, MN2.0 mi · 4,849 people · home $354,800
- Bayport, MN3.9 mi · 4,024 people · home $376,900
- Grant, MN4.3 mi · 3,966 people · home $683,400
- West Lakeland, MN5.7 mi · 3,976 people · home $709,300
- North Hudson, WI5.7 mi · 3,803 people · home $385,300
- Lake Elmo, MN6.2 mi · 11,335 people · home $597,000
- Mahtomedi, MN6.8 mi · 8,138 people · home $476,000
- St. Joseph, WI6.8 mi · 4,178 people · home $509,600
Stillwater questions
Is Stillwater, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stillwater scores better for retirees than 82% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 11%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Stillwater?
The median owner-occupied home in Stillwater is valued at $414,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,853, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,622 a month.
What is the weather like in Stillwater?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 46.8 inches of snow.
Does Stillwater get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stillwater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 25, 2008. 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)