The Town FilesLake Elmo, Minnesota
City in Washington County · population 11,335 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $597,000
- Household income
- $153,669
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.8
Lake Elmo is a city of 11,335 people in Washington County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $597,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more upscale than 99% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 92% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 85% of Minnesota towns.
How Lake Elmo 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 Elmo is worth $597,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $153,669, which is more affordable than 26% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $2,407 a month. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Elmo | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $597,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $2,407 | $991 |
| Median household income | $153,669 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake Elmo
| People | Lake Elmo | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 36.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Lake Elmo
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Elmo since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 14, 1981 about 5.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 72 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 175 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on August 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 95,625 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Lake Elmo itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Lake Elmo
3 public schools with 1,655 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak-Land Middle School | 6-8 | 935 | 23.4 |
| LAKE ELMO ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 626 | 13.9 |
| Pankalo Education Center | K-8 | 94 | 4.5 |
Towns near Lake Elmo
- Oakdale, MN2.6 mi · 28,303 people · home $318,100
- West Lakeland, MN4.7 mi · 3,976 people · home $709,300
- North St. Paul, MN4.8 mi · 12,364 people · home $298,500
- Woodbury, MN5.7 mi · 75,102 people · home $450,200
- Mahtomedi, MN5.7 mi · 8,138 people · home $476,000
- Oak Park Heights, MN5.8 mi · 4,849 people · home $354,800
- Stillwater, MN6.2 mi · 19,394 people · home $414,200
- Maplewood, MN6.3 mi · 42,088 people · home $323,200
Lake Elmo questions
Is Lake Elmo, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Elmo scores better for retirees than 58% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 19%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Lake Elmo?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Elmo is valued at $597,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $153,669, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $2,407 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Elmo?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 47.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake Elmo get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Elmo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 14, 1981. 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)