The Town FilesWhite Bear Lake, Minnesota
City in Ramsey County · population 24,883 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $331,800
- Household income
- $83,554
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.9
White Bear Lake is a city of 24,883 people in Ramsey County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $331,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 96% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Minnesota towns.
How White Bear Lake 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 White Bear Lake is worth $331,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $83,554, which is more affordable than 23% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,601 a month. 67.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | White Bear Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $331,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,601 | $991 |
| Median household income | $83,554 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in White Bear Lake
| People | White Bear Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 20.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in White Bear Lake
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White Bear Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 8.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 207 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 219 times; the largest was 3.10 inches on August 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Ramsey County since 1996
Ramsey County has been included in 19 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 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ramsey County
Ramsey County had 325,226 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,908 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in White Bear Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in White Bear Lake
28 public schools with 7,965 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHITE BEAR NORTH CAMPUS SENIOR | 9-10 | 1,322 | 17.9 |
| WHITE BEAR SOUTH CAMPUS SENIOR | 11-12 | 1,196 | 21.4 |
| CENTRAL MIDDLE | 6-8 | 969 | 20.6 |
| SUNRISE PARK MIDDLE | 6-8 | 750 | 16.3 |
| MATOSKA INTERNATIONAL | K-5 | 598 | 19.3 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 475 | 19.0 |
| OTTER LAKE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 457 | 13.1 |
| VADNAIS HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 397 | 15.3 |
| LAKEAIRES ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 387 | 15.5 |
| WILLOW LANE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 267 | 8.6 |
| BIRCH LAKE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 246 | 12.9 |
| NORMANDY PARK EDUCATION CENTER | PK-K | 198 | 9.9 |
Towns near White Bear Lake
- Mahtomedi, MN2.1 mi · 8,138 people · home $476,000
- White Bear, MN2.6 mi · 11,049 people · home $386,300
- Vadnais Heights, MN2.7 mi · 12,912 people · home $363,100
- Maplewood, MN3.3 mi · 42,088 people · home $323,200
- North St. Paul, MN3.6 mi · 12,364 people · home $298,500
- Little Canada, MN4.5 mi · 10,819 people · home $319,800
- North Oaks, MN5.1 mi · 5,272 people · home $821,200
- Grant, MN5.1 mi · 3,966 people · home $683,400
White Bear Lake questions
Is White Bear Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, White Bear Lake scores better for retirees than 39% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 3%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in White Bear Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in White Bear Lake is valued at $331,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,554, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,601 a month.
What is the weather like in White Bear Lake?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 45.0 inches of snow.
Does White Bear Lake get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White Bear Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. 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)