The Town FilesWalnut Grove, Minnesota
City in Redwood County · population 751 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $90,000
- Household income
- $58,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 35.4
Walnut Grove is a city of 751 people in Redwood County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $90,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 75% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 73% of Minnesota towns.
How Walnut Grove 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 Walnut Grove is worth $90,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $58,125, which is more affordable than 99% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $621 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walnut Grove | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $621 | $991 |
| Median household income | $58,125 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Walnut Grove
| People | Walnut Grove | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Walnut Grove
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walnut Grove 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 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 151 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 13, 1997.
Severe weather in Redwood County since 1996
Redwood County has been included in 21 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 |
| 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 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Redwood County
Redwood County had 6,096 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,471 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Walnut Grove itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Walnut Grove
1 public school with 310 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WALNUT GROVE ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 310 | 14.1 |
Towns near Walnut Grove
- Tracy, MN7.6 mi · 2,076 people · home $113,400
- Lamberton, MN10.0 mi · 792 people · home $96,000
- Westbrook, MN12.8 mi · 758 people · home $78,200
- The Lakes, MN13.0 mi · 590 people · home $397,100
- Wabasso, MN16.2 mi · 739 people · home $109,600
- Lake Marshall, MN19.3 mi · 564 people · home $335,500
- Balaton, MN19.9 mi · 595 people · home $94,000
- Slayton, MN21.7 mi · 2,013 people · home $161,700
Walnut Grove questions
Is Walnut Grove, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walnut Grove scores better for retirees than 20% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 28%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Walnut Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Walnut Grove is valued at $90,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,125, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $621 a month.
What is the weather like in Walnut Grove?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 46.3 inches of snow.
Does Walnut Grove get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walnut Grove 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)