The Town FilesWhite Earth, Minnesota
Community in Becker County · population 522 (2020 Census)
- Household income
- $17,450
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 29.7
White Earth is a community of 522 people in Becker County, Minnesota. It ranks better for young professionals than 88% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 75% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 72% of Minnesota towns.
How White Earth 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
Median rent is $300 a month. 19.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | White Earth | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $300 | $991 |
| Median household income | $17,450 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 19.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in White Earth
| People | White Earth | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 63.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 1.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 62.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in White Earth
July highs average 78.5°F and January lows -2.5°F. About 26.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White Earth since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 24, 2019 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 24, 2010.
Severe weather in Becker County since 1996
Becker County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 5, 2006 | Flood | DR-1648: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Becker County
Becker County had 15,120 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,242 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in White Earth itself the ACS puts it at 13.8%.
Towns near White Earth
- White Earth, MN0.9 mi · 765 people · home $163,200
- Sugar Bush, MN11.0 mi · 537 people · home $267,000
- Richwood, MN12.5 mi · 651 people · home $321,900
- Holmesville, MN12.6 mi · 543 people · home $304,800
- Pembina, MN13.5 mi · 621 people · home $174,400
- Mahnomen, MN15.6 mi · 1,240 people · home $83,200
- Naytahwaush, MN16.1 mi · 504 people · home $88,800
- Detroit, MN16.8 mi · 2,093 people · home $409,600
White Earth questions
Is White Earth, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, White Earth scores better for retirees than 17% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 50%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.7).
What is the weather like in White Earth?
July highs average 78.5°F and January lows -2.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.4 inches of precipitation a year and 47.6 inches of snow.
Does White Earth get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White Earth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 24, 2019. 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)