The Town FilesLake City, Minnesota
City in Wabasha County · population 5,252 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $238,700
- Household income
- $72,244
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 49.1
Lake City is a city of 5,252 people in Wabasha County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $238,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 92% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Minnesota towns.
How Lake City 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 Lake City is worth $238,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $72,244, which is more affordable than 55% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $871 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake City | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $871 | $991 |
| Median household income | $72,244 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.3% | — |
Who lives in Lake City
| People | Lake City | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Lake City
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 4.2°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 28, 1964 about 8.4 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 44 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 13, 2026.
Severe weather in Wabasha County since 1996
Wabasha County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Wabasha County
Wabasha County had 6,566 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,637 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Lake City itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Lake City
3 public schools with 1,182 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINCOLN SECONDARY | 7-12 | 596 | 18.1 |
| BLUFF VIEW ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 586 | 13.3 |
| Lake City Credit Recovery | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Lake City
- Wabasha, MN12.7 mi · 2,559 people · home $262,300
- Red Wing, MN18.5 mi · 16,547 people · home $237,300
- Plainview, MN20.2 mi · 3,483 people · home $245,300
- Zumbrota, MN22.0 mi · 3,726 people · home $249,300
- Ellsworth, WI22.3 mi · 3,348 people · home $262,200
- Pine Island, MN24.2 mi · 3,769 people · home $350,500
- Cascade, MN26.1 mi · 2,837 people · home $506,800
Lake City questions
Is Lake City, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake City scores better for retirees than 82% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 23%. 29.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake City?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake City is valued at $238,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,244, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $871 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake City?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 4.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 33.5 inches of snow.
Does Lake City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 28, 1964. 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)