The Town FilesCaledonia, Minnesota
City in Houston County · population 2,847 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,900
- Household income
- $76,477
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 50.4
Caledonia is a city of 2,847 people in Houston County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $157,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 86% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 83% of Minnesota towns.
- #1 in The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota With Mild Winters
- #8 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Minnesota
- #17 in 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Mildest Winters
- #18 in 25 Small Towns in Minnesota With the Cheapest Homes
- #19 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota
How Caledonia 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 Caledonia is worth $157,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $76,477, which is more affordable than 92% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Caledonia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $839 | $991 |
| Median household income | $76,477 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Caledonia
| People | Caledonia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Caledonia
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 7.7°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caledonia since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 5, 1965 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Houston County since 1996
Houston County has been included in 21 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Houston County
Houston County had 5,031 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,489 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Caledonia itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Caledonia
3 public schools with 705 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CALEDONIA ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 298 | 12.4 |
| CALEDONIA SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 267 | 13.4 |
| CALEDONIA MIDDLE | 6-8 | 140 | 11.7 |
Towns near Caledonia
- La Crescent, MN16.7 mi · 5,276 people · home $272,400
- Shelby, WI18.5 mi · 4,804 people · home $301,200
- La Crosse, WI19.1 mi · 52,680 people · home $210,100
- French Island, WI19.6 mi · 4,284 people · home $207,100
- Campbell, WI20.2 mi · 4,284 people · home $207,100
- Onalaska, WI23.0 mi · 18,803 people · home $288,900
- Onalaska, WI23.8 mi · 5,835 people · home $320,100
- Waukon, IA25.3 mi · 3,827 people · home $147,200
Caledonia questions
Is Caledonia, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Caledonia scores better for retirees than 87% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 44%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.4).
How much does a house cost in Caledonia?
The median owner-occupied home in Caledonia is valued at $157,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,477, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in Caledonia?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 7.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 44.8 inches of snow.
Does Caledonia get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caledonia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 5, 1965. 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)