The Town FilesMonticello, Minnesota
City in Wright County · population 14,455 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $323,700
- Household income
- $79,534
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 34.1
Monticello is a city of 14,455 people in Wright County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $323,700, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more vibrant than 92% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 84% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Minnesota towns.
How Monticello 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 Monticello is worth $323,700, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $79,534, which is more affordable than 20% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,405 a month. 64.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monticello | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,405 | $991 |
| Median household income | $79,534 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 64.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Monticello
| People | Monticello | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Monticello
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 2.7°F. About 31.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 16, 2006 about 9.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 1, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 116 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Wright County since 1996
Wright County has been included in 17 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 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wright County
Wright County had 48,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,999 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Monticello itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Monticello
18 public schools with 4,332 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONTICELLO SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,330 | 21.5 |
| MONTICELLO MIDDLE | 6-8 | 942 | 18.8 |
| PINEWOOD ELEMENTARY | 1-5 | 790 | 15.2 |
| LITTLE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY | 1-5 | 598 | 14.6 |
| Eastview Education Center | PK-K | 326 | 8.2 |
| Swan River Montessori Charter Sch (charter) | K-6 | 162 | 12.5 |
| Eastview Elementary School - SNW | PK-PK | 72 | 10.3 |
| Monticello High School - SNW | 9-12 | 27 | 6.8 |
| MONTICELLO ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM | 9-12 | 23 | 7.7 |
| Pinewood Elementary - SNW | K-6 | 15 | 5.0 |
| Monticello Middle School - SNW | 6-8 | 12 | 1.5 |
| Foundations II | 5-10 | 8 | — |
Towns near Monticello
- Monticello, MN3.1 mi · 3,309 people · home $370,800
- Big Lake, MN3.9 mi · 11,686 people · home $330,200
- Big Lake, MN4.8 mi · 7,924 people · home $404,900
- Albertville, MN7.2 mi · 7,896 people · home $343,700
- Becker, MN8.1 mi · 4,877 people · home $271,300
- St. Michael, MN8.1 mi · 18,235 people · home $390,100
- Otsego, MN8.3 mi · 19,966 people · home $396,700
- Silver Creek, MN8.4 mi · 2,559 people · home $452,600
Monticello questions
Is Monticello, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monticello scores better for retirees than 11% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 9%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Monticello?
The median owner-occupied home in Monticello is valued at $323,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,534, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,405 a month.
What is the weather like in Monticello?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 2.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.7 inches of precipitation a year and 39.8 inches of snow.
Does Monticello get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 16, 2006. 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)