The Town FilesWashington, Minnesota
Township in Le Sueur County · population 778 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $489,400
- Household income
- $120,682
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 53.8
Washington is a township of 778 people in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $489,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 79% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 78% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 73% of Minnesota towns.
How Washington 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 Washington is worth $489,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $120,682, which is more affordable than 20% of Minnesota towns. 93.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $489,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $120,682 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.2% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 3.1°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 29, 1998 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2026.
Severe weather in Le Sueur County since 1996
Le Sueur County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Le Sueur County
Le Sueur County had 8,667 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,749 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Towns near Washington
- Jamestown, MN2.9 mi · 679 people · home $447,600
- Madison Lake, MN3.7 mi · 1,247 people · home $303,100
- Cleveland, MN4.2 mi · 710 people · home $440,900
- Cleveland, MN4.3 mi · 747 people · home $212,800
- Elysian, MN5.6 mi · 1,017 people · home $392,200
- Kasota, MN6.0 mi · 1,573 people · home $433,100
- Lime, MN6.9 mi · 946 people · home $423,500
- Eagle Lake, MN7.2 mi · 3,278 people · home $276,500
Washington questions
Is Washington, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 79% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 73%. 28.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.8).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $489,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,682, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 3.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 37.9 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 29, 1998. 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)