The Town FilesGranite Falls, Minnesota
City in Yellow Medicine County · population 2,737 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $136,700
- Household income
- $59,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 40.3
Granite Falls is a city of 2,737 people in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $136,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 90% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 78% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 75% of Minnesota towns.
How Granite Falls 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 Granite Falls is worth $136,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $59,375, which is more affordable than 89% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $920 a month. 74.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Granite Falls | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $920 | $991 |
| Median household income | $59,375 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Granite Falls
| People | Granite Falls | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Granite Falls
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 2.7°F. About 28.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Granite Falls since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 25, 2000 about 0.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 12, 2005.
Severe weather in Yellow Medicine County since 1996
Yellow Medicine County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 Yellow Medicine County
Yellow Medicine County had 3,621 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,625 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Granite Falls itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Granite Falls
2 public schools with 603 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Medicine East Secondary | 6-12 | 331 | 12.7 |
| BERT RANEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 272 | 11.3 |
Towns near Granite Falls
- Montevideo, MN13.0 mi · 5,398 people · home $141,000
- Marshall, MN27.6 mi · 13,628 people · home $210,300
- Redwood Falls, MN28.1 mi · 5,102 people · home $162,100
Granite Falls questions
Is Granite Falls, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Granite Falls scores better for retirees than 59% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 46%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Granite Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Granite Falls is valued at $136,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,375, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $920 a month.
What is the weather like in Granite Falls?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 2.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.6 inches of precipitation a year and 51.5 inches of snow.
Does Granite Falls get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Granite Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 25, 2000. 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)