The Town FilesAustin, Minnesota
City in Mower County · population 26,174 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,900
- Household income
- $68,057
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 36.2
Austin is a city of 26,174 people in Mower County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $163,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Minnesota towns.
How Austin 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 Austin is worth $163,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $68,057, which is more affordable than 86% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $953 a month. 71.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Austin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $953 | $991 |
| Median household income | $68,057 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 71.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Austin
| People | Austin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Austin
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 5.4°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Austin since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 17, 1982 about 7.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 24, 1989.
Severe weather in Mower County since 1996
Mower County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| October 13, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1941: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mower County
Mower County had 16,932 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,042 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Austin itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Austin
16 public schools with 4,715 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUSTIN SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,408 | 18.1 |
| ELLIS MIDDLE | 7-8 | 713 | 14.9 |
| I.J. HOLTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 700 | 13.2 |
| BANFIELD ELEMENTARY | 1-4 | 478 | 13.3 |
| WOODSON KINDERGARTEN CENTER | PK-K | 366 | 17.4 |
| NEVELN ELEMENTARY | 1-4 | 352 | 16.0 |
| SUMNER ELEMENTARY | 1-4 | 341 | 13.1 |
| AUSTIN AREA LEARNING CENTER | 6-12 | 194 | 194.0 |
| SMEC ALC | 5-12 | 73 | 36.5 |
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER | PK-12 | 40 | 4.0 |
| Oakland Education Center | K-12 | 37 | 3.7 |
| RESET | 1-12 | 12 | — |
Towns near Austin
- Albert Lea, MN19.3 mi · 18,492 people · home $157,500
- Dodge Center, MN25.4 mi · 2,844 people · home $197,600
- Kasson, MN27.4 mi · 6,851 people · home $285,200
- Stewartville, MN27.6 mi · 6,687 people · home $265,300
- Osage, IA28.2 mi · 3,627 people · home $160,700
Austin questions
Is Austin, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Austin scores better for retirees than 5% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 3%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Austin?
The median owner-occupied home in Austin is valued at $163,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,057, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $953 a month.
What is the weather like in Austin?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 5.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Austin get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Austin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 17, 1982. 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)