The Town FilesSwan River, Minnesota
Township in Morrison County · population 723 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $305,600
- Household income
- $76,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 44.5
Swan River is a township of 723 people in Morrison County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $305,600, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 72% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 70% of Minnesota towns.
How Swan River 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 Swan River is worth $305,600, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $76,625, which is more affordable than 23% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 94.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swan River | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $305,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $825 | $991 |
| Median household income | $76,625 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 94.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Swan River
| People | Swan River | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Swan River
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 3.5°F. About 27.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swan River since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 13, 2001 about 8.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 15, 1979.
Severe weather in Morrison County since 1996
Morrison County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 8, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4658: 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 |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Morrison County
Morrison County had 11,175 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,270 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Swan River itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Swan River
- Two Rivers, MN5.9 mi · 780 people · home $307,500
- Swanville, MN6.5 mi · 510 people · home $318,500
- Pike Creek, MN6.6 mi · 958 people · home $266,400
- Elmdale, MN7.1 mi · 981 people · home $293,600
- Little Falls, MN7.6 mi · 1,676 people · home $301,100
- Little Falls, MN8.1 mi · 9,140 people · home $202,600
- Royalton, MN8.1 mi · 1,281 people · home $215,300
- Bellevue, MN8.4 mi · 1,149 people · home $356,100
Swan River questions
Is Swan River, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swan River scores better for retirees than 11% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 63%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Swan River?
The median owner-occupied home in Swan River is valued at $305,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,625, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Swan River?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 3.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.2 inches of precipitation a year and 50.7 inches of snow.
Does Swan River get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swan River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 13, 2001. 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)