The Town FilesFoley, Minnesota
City in Benton County · population 2,711 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,800
- Household income
- $58,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 34.2
Foley is a city of 2,711 people in Benton County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $203,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 81% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 75% of Minnesota towns.
How Foley 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 Foley is worth $203,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $58,833, which is more affordable than 45% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,041 a month. 67.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Foley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,041 | $991 |
| Median household income | $58,833 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Foley
| People | Foley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Foley
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 2.9°F. About 28.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Foley since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 16, 1992 about 1.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 24, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 13 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 |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 17,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,955 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Foley itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Foley
4 public schools with 1,925 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOLEY INTERMEDIATE ELEMENTARY | 4-8 | 743 | 15.8 |
| FOLEY SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 603 | 18.8 |
| FOLEY ELEMENTARY | PK-3 | 579 | 12.9 |
| ALC - Foley | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Foley
- Palmer, MN10.3 mi · 2,517 people · home $382,700
- Sauk Rapids, MN12.7 mi · 13,862 people · home $256,100
- Haven, MN12.8 mi · 2,610 people · home $346,800
- Watab, MN12.9 mi · 3,402 people · home $318,200
- Milaca, MN14.1 mi · 3,021 people · home $203,400
- Blue Hill, MN14.6 mi · 2,507 people · home $373,300
- Sartell, MN14.9 mi · 19,351 people · home $297,300
- St. Cloud, MN15.8 mi · 68,881 people · home $225,000
Foley questions
Is Foley, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Foley scores better for retirees than 3% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 35%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Foley?
The median owner-occupied home in Foley is valued at $203,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,833, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,041 a month.
What is the weather like in Foley?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 2.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.5 inches of precipitation a year and 49.3 inches of snow.
Does Foley get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Foley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 16, 1992. 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)