The Town FilesWestbrook, Minnesota
City in Cottonwood County · population 758 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,200
- Household income
- $35,119
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 36.0
Westbrook is a city of 758 people in Cottonwood County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $78,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 88% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 82% of Minnesota towns.
How Westbrook 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 Westbrook is worth $78,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $35,119, which is more affordable than 91% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $605 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Westbrook | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $605 | $991 |
| Median household income | $35,119 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Westbrook
| People | Westbrook | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Westbrook
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 46.6 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
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westbrook since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 29, 1998 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 11, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 20, 1979.
Severe weather in Cottonwood County since 1996
Cottonwood County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 Cottonwood County
Cottonwood County had 4,847 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,092 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Westbrook itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Westbrook
1 public school with 189 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SECONDARY | 7-12 | 189 | 10.5 |
Towns near Westbrook
- The Lakes, MN12.4 mi · 590 people · home $397,100
- Walnut Grove, MN12.8 mi · 751 people · home $90,000
- Fulda, MN14.7 mi · 1,371 people · home $164,700
- Lamberton, MN15.5 mi · 792 people · home $96,000
- Slayton, MN16.3 mi · 2,013 people · home $161,700
- Tracy, MN16.5 mi · 2,076 people · home $113,400
- Heron Lake, MN17.8 mi · 602 people · home $88,600
- Windom, MN19.6 mi · 4,798 people · home $169,700
Westbrook questions
Is Westbrook, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Westbrook scores better for retirees than 88% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 55%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Westbrook?
The median owner-occupied home in Westbrook is valued at $78,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,119, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $605 a month.
What is the weather like in Westbrook?
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 46.6 inches of snow.
Does Westbrook get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westbrook 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)