The Town FilesThe Lakes, Minnesota
Community in Murray County · population 590 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $397,100
- Household income
- $87,969
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 62.7
The Lakes is a community of 590 people in Murray County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $397,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 97% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 91% of Minnesota towns.
How The Lakes 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 The Lakes is worth $397,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $87,969, which is more affordable than 10% of Minnesota towns. 92.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | The Lakes | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $397,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $87,969 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 57.2% | — |
Who lives in The Lakes
| People | The Lakes | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 10.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in The Lakes
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.3°F. About 29.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of The Lakes since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 13, 1968 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 150 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 18, 1974.
Severe weather in Murray County since 1996
Murray County has been included in 17 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 Murray County
Murray County had 2,914 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,046 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in The Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Towns near The Lakes
- Slayton, MN9.0 mi · 2,013 people · home $161,700
- Tracy, MN9.7 mi · 2,076 people · home $113,400
- Westbrook, MN12.4 mi · 758 people · home $78,200
- Walnut Grove, MN13.0 mi · 751 people · home $90,000
- Balaton, MN13.3 mi · 595 people · home $94,000
- Fulda, MN16.7 mi · 1,371 people · home $164,700
- Lake Marshall, MN21.2 mi · 564 people · home $335,500
- Lamberton, MN21.8 mi · 792 people · home $96,000
The Lakes questions
Is The Lakes, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, The Lakes scores better for retirees than 91% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 97%. 45.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.7).
How much does a house cost in The Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in The Lakes is valued at $397,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,969, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in The Lakes?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.2 inches of precipitation a year and 48.2 inches of snow.
Does The Lakes get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of The Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 13, 1968. 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)