The Town FilesViola, Minnesota
Township in Olmsted County · population 548 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $440,000
- Household income
- $111,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 49.8
Viola is a township of 548 people in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $440,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better transit than 95% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 89% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 76% of Minnesota towns.
How Viola 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 Viola is worth $440,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $111,667, which is more affordable than 26% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 97.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Viola | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $440,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $950 | $991 |
| Median household income | $111,667 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 97.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Viola
| People | Viola | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 27.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Viola
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 4.2°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Viola since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 9.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 16, 1963.
Severe weather in Olmsted County since 1996
Olmsted County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| October 13, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1941: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2010 | Tornado | DR-1921: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Olmsted County
Olmsted County had 103,905 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,579 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Viola itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Viola
- Elgin, MN4.5 mi · 1,115 people · home $232,200
- Eyota, MN5.4 mi · 2,006 people · home $278,200
- Haverhill, MN5.7 mi · 1,498 people · home $549,800
- Elgin, MN6.6 mi · 676 people · home $362,900
- Plainview, MN8.2 mi · 3,483 people · home $245,300
- Marion, MN8.3 mi · 4,027 people · home $416,100
- Dover, MN9.0 mi · 782 people · home $305,200
- Cascade, MN10.3 mi · 2,837 people · home $506,800
Viola questions
Is Viola, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Viola scores better for retirees than 69% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 44%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Viola?
The median owner-occupied home in Viola is valued at $440,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,667, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Viola?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 4.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.8 inches of snow.
Does Viola get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Viola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. 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)