The Town FilesAlbany, Minnesota
City in Stearns County · population 2,780 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $238,500
- Household income
- $69,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 34.0
Albany is a city of 2,780 people in Stearns County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $238,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 78% of Minnesota towns.
How Albany 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 Albany is worth $238,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $69,167, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $642 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Albany | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $642 | $991 |
| Median household income | $69,167 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Albany
| People | Albany | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Albany
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 3.8°F. About 31.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albany since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 5, 1964 about 8.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 12, 1971.
Severe weather in Stearns County since 1996
Stearns County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Stearns County
Stearns County had 87,252 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,313 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Albany itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Albany
3 public schools with 1,508 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Area High School | 9-12 | 560 | 18.7 |
| ALBANY ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 478 | 14.5 |
| Albany Area Middle School | 6-8 | 470 | 20.4 |
Towns near Albany
- Collegeville, MN7.8 mi · 3,344 people · home $468,600
- Wakefield, MN12.1 mi · 2,746 people · home $394,700
- Melrose, MN12.6 mi · 3,602 people · home $207,200
- St. Joseph, MN13.3 mi · 7,029 people · home $237,700
- Cold Spring, MN13.3 mi · 4,164 people · home $280,400
- Brockway, MN13.8 mi · 2,895 people · home $363,000
- Sartell, MN17.0 mi · 19,351 people · home $297,300
- Waite Park, MN17.1 mi · 8,341 people · home $219,400
Albany questions
Is Albany, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Albany scores better for retirees than 51% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 14%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Albany?
The median owner-occupied home in Albany is valued at $238,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,167, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $642 a month.
What is the weather like in Albany?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 3.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.0 inches of precipitation a year and 57.4 inches of snow.
Does Albany get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albany since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 5, 1964. 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)