The Town FilesMay, Minnesota
Township in Washington County · population 2,670 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $685,700
- Household income
- $137,321
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 52.9
May is a township of 2,670 people in Washington County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $685,700, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 99% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 97% of Minnesota towns.
How May 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 May is worth $685,700, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $137,321, which is more affordable than 5% of Minnesota towns. 98.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | May | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $685,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $137,321 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 98.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.1% | — |
Who lives in May
| People | May | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 23.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 35.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in May
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 47.9 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
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of May since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 25, 2008 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 2008.
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 May itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near May
- Scandia, MN6.0 mi · 3,984 people · home $475,800
- Hugo, MN6.1 mi · 15,766 people · home $408,900
- Somerset, WI6.5 mi · 4,291 people · home $464,800
- Grant, MN6.8 mi · 3,966 people · home $683,400
- Stillwater, MN7.3 mi · 19,394 people · home $414,200
- Somerset, WI8.3 mi · 3,019 people · home $286,600
- Forest Lake, MN8.8 mi · 20,611 people · home $393,500
- Oak Park Heights, MN9.1 mi · 4,849 people · home $354,800
May questions
Is May, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, May scores better for retirees than 99% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 46%. 29.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.9).
How much does a house cost in May?
The median owner-occupied home in May is valued at $685,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $137,321, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in May?
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 47.9 inches of snow.
Does May get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of May since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 25, 2008. 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)