The Town FilesAlbert Lea, Minnesota
City in Freeborn County · population 18,492 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,500
- Household income
- $64,603
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 44.3
Albert Lea is a city of 18,492 people in Freeborn County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $157,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 96% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 92% of Minnesota towns.
How Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea is worth $157,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $64,603, which is more affordable than 86% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $857 a month. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Albert Lea | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $857 | $991 |
| Median household income | $64,603 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Albert Lea
| People | Albert Lea | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Albert Lea
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 5.9°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albert Lea since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1967 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 52 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on June 27, 1998.
Severe weather in Freeborn County since 1996
Freeborn County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms 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 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Freeborn County
Freeborn County had 11,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,099 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Albert Lea itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Albert Lea
7 public schools with 2,970 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALBERT LEA SENIOR HIGH | 8-12 | 1,229 | 16.4 |
| SOUTHWEST MIDDLE | 6-7 | 455 | 14.2 |
| LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 412 | 15.8 |
| HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 403 | 13.4 |
| SIBLEY ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 273 | 14.4 |
| Albert Lea Area Learning Center | 6-12 | 124 | 24.8 |
| Brookside Early Childhood Sp Ed | PK-PK | 74 | 9.3 |
Towns near Albert Lea
- Austin, MN19.3 mi · 26,174 people · home $163,900
Albert Lea questions
Is Albert Lea, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Albert Lea scores better for retirees than 11% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 9%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Albert Lea?
The median owner-occupied home in Albert Lea is valued at $157,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,603, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $857 a month.
What is the weather like in Albert Lea?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 5.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 39.5 inches of snow.
Does Albert Lea get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albert Lea since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1967. 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)