The Town FilesBreckenridge, Minnesota
City in Wilkin County · population 3,430 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,500
- Household income
- $58,963
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 40.5
Breckenridge is a city of 3,430 people in Wilkin County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $144,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 95% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 91% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 85% of Minnesota towns.
How Breckenridge 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 Breckenridge is worth $144,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $58,963, which is more affordable than 84% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $515 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Breckenridge | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $515 | $991 |
| Median household income | $58,963 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Breckenridge
| People | Breckenridge | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Breckenridge
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 49.6 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
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Breckenridge since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on August 7, 2010 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 9, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 14, 1998.
Severe weather in Wilkin County since 1996
Wilkin County has been included in 25 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 |
| 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 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wilkin County
Wilkin County had 1,644 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,011 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Breckenridge itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Breckenridge
4 public schools with 577 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRECKENRIDGE ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 261 | 11.9 |
| BRECKENRIDGE SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 227 | 15.1 |
| BRECKENRIDGE MIDDLE | 7-8 | 89 | 17.8 |
| Breckenridge Area Learning Program | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Breckenridge
- Wahpeton, ND1.4 mi · 8,007 people · home $171,300
- Fergus Falls, MN24.3 mi · 14,119 people · home $194,000
- Barnesville, MN27.8 mi · 2,759 people · home $248,700
Breckenridge questions
Is Breckenridge, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Breckenridge scores better for retirees than 47% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 24%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Breckenridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Breckenridge is valued at $144,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,963, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $515 a month.
What is the weather like in Breckenridge?
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 49.6 inches of snow.
Does Breckenridge get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Breckenridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on August 7, 2010. 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)