The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota With Mild Winters

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 165 towns of 500–10,000 people in Minnesota, scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Caledonia, MN.

1. 15Plainview, Minnesota

   Retirement: 75th percentile · January average low (°F): 68th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 69th percentile

   Plainview is a city of 3,483 people in Wabasha County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $245,300 against household income of $82,926; January lows average 4°F.

   3,483 people · Wabasha County · median home $245,300 · income $82,926 · Jan low 4°F · 48 in snow

   Full Plainview, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 14Zumbrota, Minnesota

   Retirement: 85th percentile · January average low (°F): 66th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

   Zumbrota is a city of 3,726 people in Goodhue County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $249,300 against household income of $78,156; January lows average 4°F.

   3,726 people · Goodhue County · median home $249,300 · income $78,156 · Jan low 4°F · 44 in snow

   Full Zumbrota, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 13Eagle Lake, Minnesota

   Retirement: 57th percentile · January average low (°F): 83rd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 74th percentile

   Eagle Lake is a city of 3,278 people in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $276,500 against household income of $96,964; January lows average 6°F.

   3,278 people · Blue Earth County · median home $276,500 · income $96,964 · Jan low 6°F · 39 in snow

   Full Eagle Lake, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 12Chatfield, Minnesota

   Retirement: 65th percentile · January average low (°F): 66th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 84th percentile

   Chatfield is a city of 2,997 people in Fillmore County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $241,600 against household income of $96,078; January lows average 4°F.

   2,997 people · Fillmore County · median home $241,600 · income $96,078 · Jan low 4°F · 48 in snow

   Full Chatfield, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 11Goodview, Minnesota

   Retirement: 76th percentile · January average low (°F): 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 50th percentile

   Goodview is a city of 4,158 people in Winona County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $254,200 against household income of $74,712; January lows average 8°F.

   4,158 people · Winona County · median home $254,200 · income $74,712 · Jan low 8°F · 38 in snow

   Full Goodview, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 10Arden Hills, Minnesota

   Retirement: 74th percentile · January average low (°F): 95th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 55th percentile

   Arden Hills is a city of 9,939 people in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $441,900 against household income of $134,118; January lows average 8°F.

   9,939 people · Ramsey County · median home $441,900 · income $134,118 · Jan low 8°F · 40 in snow

   Full Arden Hills, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 9Two Harbors, Minnesota

   Retirement: 77th percentile · January average low (°F): 91st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

   

   Two Harbors is a city of 3,633 people in Lake County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $206,800 against household income of $65,625; January lows average 7°F.

   3,633 people · Lake County · median home $206,800 · income $65,625 · Jan low 7°F · 61 in snow

   Full Two Harbors, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 8Luverne, Minnesota

   Retirement: 81st percentile · January average low (°F): 87th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

   Luverne is a city of 4,946 people in Rock County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $208,000 against household income of $64,366; January lows average 6°F.

   4,946 people · Rock County · median home $208,000 · income $64,366 · Jan low 6°F · 39 in snow

   Full Luverne, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 7Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

   Retirement: 57th percentile · January average low (°F): 88th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

   Sleepy Eye is a city of 3,452 people in Brown County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $147,600 against household income of $66,911; January lows average 7°F.

   3,452 people · Brown County · median home $147,600 · income $66,911 · Jan low 7°F · 41 in snow

   Full Sleepy Eye, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 6Pipestone, Minnesota

    Retirement: 72nd percentile · January average low (°F): 70th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 98th percentile

    Pipestone is a city of 4,215 people in Pipestone County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $114,100 against household income of $67,568; January lows average 5°F.

    4,215 people · Pipestone County · median home $114,100 · income $67,568 · Jan low 5°F · 40 in snow

    Full Pipestone, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 5La Crescent, Minnesota

    Retirement: 82nd percentile · January average low (°F): 100th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

    La Crescent is a city of 5,276 people in Houston County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $272,400 against household income of $85,368; January lows average 12°F.

    5,276 people · Houston County · median home $272,400 · income $85,368 · Jan low 12°F · 38 in snow

    Full La Crescent, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 4Jackson, Minnesota

    Retirement: 77th percentile · January average low (°F): 70th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 97th percentile

    Jackson is a city of 3,323 people in Jackson County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $128,500 against household income of $70,223; January lows average 5°F.

    3,323 people · Jackson County · median home $128,500 · income $70,223 · Jan low 5°F · 45 in snow

    Full Jackson, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 3Blue Earth, Minnesota

    Retirement: 79th percentile · January average low (°F): 81st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

    Blue Earth is a city of 3,174 people in Faribault County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $143,600 against household income of $66,771; January lows average 6°F.

    3,174 people · Faribault County · median home $143,600 · income $66,771 · Jan low 6°F · 47 in snow

    Full Blue Earth, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 2Windom, Minnesota

    Retirement: 77th percentile · January average low (°F): 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 89th percentile

    Windom is a city of 4,798 people in Cottonwood County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $169,700 against household income of $74,899; January lows average 8°F.

    4,798 people · Cottonwood County · median home $169,700 · income $74,899 · Jan low 8°F · 44 in snow

    Full Windom, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 1Caledonia, Minnesota

    Retirement: 87th percentile · January average low (°F): 92nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 92nd percentile

    Caledonia is a city of 2,847 people in Houston County, Minnesota. Homes have a median value of $157,900 against household income of $76,477; January lows average 8°F.

    2,847 people · Houston County · median home $157,900 · income $76,477 · Jan low 8°F · 45 in snow

    Full Caledonia, Minnesota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Minnesota rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota
• The 14 Quietest Small Towns in Minnesota
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Minnesota
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Minnesota
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Minnesota
• 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Minnesota
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Minnesota

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