The Town FilesElk River, Minnesota
City in Sherburne County · population 25,835 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $370,100
- Household income
- $108,741
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 37.2
Elk River is a city of 25,835 people in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $370,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better transit than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 89% of Minnesota towns.
How Elk River 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 Elk River is worth $370,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $108,741, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,283 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elk River | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $370,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,283 | $991 |
| Median household income | $108,741 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Elk River
| People | Elk River | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Elk River
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.5°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk River since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 16, 2006 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 119 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Sherburne County since 1996
Sherburne County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| August 25, 1997 | Severe Storm | DR-1187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, Flooding |
| April 8, 1997 | Flood | DR-1175: Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Sherburne County
Sherburne County had 28,090 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,774 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Elk River itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Elk River
23 public schools with 6,670 students, about 19.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELK RIVER SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,602 | 25.8 |
| TWIN LAKES ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 716 | 18.8 |
| SALK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 677 | 25.1 |
| MEADOWVALE ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 548 | 18.3 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 548 | 17.1 |
| PARKER ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 526 | 17.5 |
| VANDENBERGE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 521 | 22.7 |
| SPECTRUM HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 484 | 16.7 |
| Handke Center- EC Special Education | PK-PK | 379 | 18.0 |
| Spectrum Middle School - Grades 7-8 (charter) | 7-8 | 287 | 16.9 |
| Spectrum Middle School - Grade 6 (charter) | 6-6 | 121 | 15.1 |
| IVAN SAND COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 104 | 13.0 |
Towns near Elk River
- Otsego, MN5.4 mi · 19,966 people · home $396,700
- Nowthen, MN5.7 mi · 4,536 people · home $460,000
- Livonia, MN7.0 mi · 6,174 people · home $411,200
- Big Lake, MN7.3 mi · 7,924 people · home $404,900
- Ramsey, MN7.5 mi · 27,646 people · home $359,600
- Zimmerman, MN7.6 mi · 6,189 people · home $323,600
- Albertville, MN8.1 mi · 7,896 people · home $343,700
- Big Lake, MN8.6 mi · 11,686 people · home $330,200
Elk River questions
Is Elk River, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elk River scores better for retirees than 11% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 12%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Elk River?
The median owner-occupied home in Elk River is valued at $370,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,741, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,283 a month.
What is the weather like in Elk River?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 35.7 inches of snow.
Does Elk River get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 16, 2006. 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)