The Town FilesMora, Minnesota
City in Kanabec County · population 3,665 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,800
- Household income
- $52,535
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 43.2
Mora is a city of 3,665 people in Kanabec County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $171,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 94% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 89% of Minnesota towns.
How Mora 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 Mora is worth $171,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $52,535, which is more affordable than 55% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $788 a month. 60.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mora | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $788 | $991 |
| Median household income | $52,535 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mora
| People | Mora | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Mora
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 0.5°F. About 31.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mora since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 28, 1981 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 21, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 21, 2014.
Severe weather in Kanabec County since 1996
Kanabec County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Kanabec County
Kanabec County had 4,221 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,717 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Mora itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Mora
4 public schools with 1,653 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mora Elementary School | PK-6 | 851 | 14.0 |
| MORA SECONDARY | 7-12 | 745 | 16.9 |
| MORA ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CENTER | 9-12 | 55 | 27.5 |
| MORA MIDDLE LEVEL ALC | 6-8 | 2 | 2.0 |
Towns near Mora
- Pokegama, MN11.8 mi · 2,825 people · home $316,000
- Pine City, MN15.8 mi · 3,130 people · home $186,900
- Milaca, MN19.2 mi · 3,021 people · home $203,400
- Rush City, MN20.4 mi · 3,228 people · home $233,100
- Cambridge, MN22.1 mi · 9,611 people · home $251,600
- Bradford, MN25.2 mi · 3,427 people · home $336,800
- Princeton, MN25.8 mi · 4,819 people · home $218,700
- Isanti, MN26.7 mi · 6,804 people · home $290,600
Mora questions
Is Mora, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mora scores better for retirees than 34% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 12%. 28.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Mora?
The median owner-occupied home in Mora is valued at $171,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,535, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $788 a month.
What is the weather like in Mora?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 0.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.7 inches of precipitation a year and 52.0 inches of snow.
Does Mora get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 28, 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)