The Town FilesLitchfield, Minnesota
City in Meeker County · population 6,624 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,600
- Household income
- $54,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.0
Litchfield is a city of 6,624 people in Meeker County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $187,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 87% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Minnesota towns.
How Litchfield 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 Litchfield is worth $187,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $54,875, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $987 a month. 60.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Litchfield | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $987 | $991 |
| Median household income | $54,875 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Litchfield
| People | Litchfield | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Litchfield
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows -0.2°F. About 29.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Litchfield since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 11, 2016 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Meeker County since 1996
Meeker County has been included in 11 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 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Meeker County
Meeker County had 8,042 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,874 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Litchfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Litchfield
6 public schools with 1,574 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE RIPLEY ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 575 | 14.0 |
| Litchfield Middle School | 5-8 | 488 | 16.8 |
| LITCHFIELD SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 442 | 19.2 |
| Litchfield Early Childhood Special | PK-PK | 41 | 20.5 |
| LITCHFIELD AREA LEARNING PROGRAM | 10-12 | 16 | 16.0 |
| WINGS ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM | 7-12 | 12 | 12.0 |
Towns near Litchfield
- Cokato, MN16.8 mi · 2,799 people · home $223,300
- Hutchinson, MN17.9 mi · 14,599 people · home $229,600
- Annandale, MN21.9 mi · 3,330 people · home $251,800
- New London, MN23.4 mi · 2,952 people · home $351,400
- Cold Spring, MN23.7 mi · 4,164 people · home $280,400
- Wakefield, MN24.0 mi · 2,746 people · home $394,700
- Corinna, MN24.7 mi · 2,540 people · home $457,100
- Willmar, MN26.0 mi · 21,015 people · home $198,400
Litchfield questions
Is Litchfield, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Litchfield scores better for retirees than 42% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 18%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Litchfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Litchfield is valued at $187,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,875, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $987 a month.
What is the weather like in Litchfield?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows -0.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.8 inches of precipitation a year and 43.3 inches of snow.
Does Litchfield get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Litchfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 11, 2016. 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)