The Town FilesBarnesville, Minnesota
City in Clay County · population 2,759 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $248,700
- Household income
- $97,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 32.7
Barnesville is a city of 2,759 people in Clay County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $248,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for families than 89% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 85% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 77% of Minnesota towns.
How Barnesville 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 Barnesville is worth $248,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $97,917, which is more affordable than 84% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 83.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnesville | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $248,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $848 | $991 |
| Median household income | $97,917 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 83.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Barnesville
| People | Barnesville | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Barnesville
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows -0.9°F. About 24.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnesville since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 9, 1959 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 27, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 13, 2023.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: 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 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 19,702 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,697 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Barnesville itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Barnesville
2 public schools with 875 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARNESVILLE ELEMENTARY | K-6 | 496 | 16.0 |
| BARNESVILLE SECONDARY | 6-12 | 379 | 16.5 |
Towns near Barnesville
- Pelican Rapids, MN16.6 mi · 2,577 people · home $174,100
- Dilworth, MN20.6 mi · 4,612 people · home $261,800
- Moorhead, MN21.5 mi · 44,505 people · home $249,000
- Fargo, ND24.5 mi · 125,990 people · home $281,900
- Horace, ND24.6 mi · 3,085 people · home $414,500
- West Fargo, ND27.2 mi · 38,626 people · home $321,900
- Breckenridge, MN27.8 mi · 3,430 people · home $144,500
- Wahpeton, ND27.8 mi · 8,007 people · home $171,300
Barnesville questions
Is Barnesville, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnesville scores better for retirees than 38% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 28%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Barnesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnesville is valued at $248,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,917, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in Barnesville?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows -0.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.8 inches of precipitation a year and 51.6 inches of snow.
Does Barnesville get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 9, 1959. 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)