The Town FilesWest Lakeland, Minnesota
Township in Washington County · population 3,976 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $709,300
- Household income
- $216,310
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 45.4
West Lakeland is a township of 3,976 people in Washington County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $709,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for families than 99% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 99% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 89% of Minnesota towns.
How West Lakeland 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 West Lakeland is worth $709,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $216,310, which is more affordable than 55% of Minnesota towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Lakeland | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $709,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $216,310 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Lakeland
| People | West Lakeland | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 33.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in West Lakeland
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Lakeland since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 24, 1958 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 122 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on August 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 95,625 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in West Lakeland itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near West Lakeland
- Bayport, MN3.2 mi · 4,024 people · home $376,900
- North Hudson, WI3.2 mi · 3,803 people · home $385,300
- Oak Park Heights, MN3.9 mi · 4,849 people · home $354,800
- Hudson, WI4.2 mi · 14,755 people · home $392,700
- Lake Elmo, MN4.7 mi · 11,335 people · home $597,000
- Afton, MN5.4 mi · 2,955 people · home $679,300
- Stillwater, MN5.7 mi · 19,394 people · home $414,200
- Hudson, WI6.9 mi · 8,671 people · home $507,000
West Lakeland questions
Is West Lakeland, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Lakeland scores better for retirees than 48% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 29%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.4).
How much does a house cost in West Lakeland?
The median owner-occupied home in West Lakeland is valued at $709,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $216,310, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in West Lakeland?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 46.9 inches of snow.
Does West Lakeland get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Lakeland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 24, 1958. 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)