The Town FilesBlue Earth, Minnesota
City in Faribault County · population 3,174 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,600
- Household income
- $66,771
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 44.1
Blue Earth is a city of 3,174 people in Faribault County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $143,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 98% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 98% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Minnesota towns.
How Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth is worth $143,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $66,771, which is more affordable than 91% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $918 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blue Earth | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $918 | $991 |
| Median household income | $66,771 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Blue Earth
| People | Blue Earth | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 13.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Blue Earth
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.6°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blue Earth since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 13, 2026 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 25, 2018.
Severe weather in Faribault County since 1996
Faribault County has been included in 22 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Faribault County
Faribault County had 4,549 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,879 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Blue Earth itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Blue Earth
4 public schools with 1,075 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Earth Area Elementary | PK-5 | 512 | 15.5 |
| Blue Earth Area Secondary | 8-12 | 420 | 18.3 |
| BLUE EARTH AREA MIDDLE | 6-7 | 133 | 10.2 |
| Blue Earth Area Early Childhood Spe | PK-PK | 10 | — |
Towns near Blue Earth
- Fairmont, MN18.2 mi · 10,487 people · home $169,900
Blue Earth questions
Is Blue Earth, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blue Earth scores better for retirees than 79% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 15%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Blue Earth?
The median owner-occupied home in Blue Earth is valued at $143,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,771, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $918 a month.
What is the weather like in Blue Earth?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 47.2 inches of snow.
Does Blue Earth get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blue Earth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 13, 2026. 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)