The Town FilesNorth Mankato, Minnesota
City in Nicollet County · population 14,275 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $262,100
- Household income
- $80,791
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 38.5
North Mankato is a city of 14,275 people in Nicollet County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $262,100, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 96% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 95% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 92% of Minnesota towns.
How North Mankato 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 North Mankato is worth $262,100, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $80,791, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $973 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Mankato | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $973 | $991 |
| Median household income | $80,791 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in North Mankato
| People | North Mankato | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in North Mankato
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 5.7°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Mankato since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 29, 1998 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 17, 1965.
Severe weather in Nicollet County since 1996
Nicollet County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Nicollet County
Nicollet County had 14,609 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,235 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in North Mankato itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in North Mankato
7 public schools with 2,082 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Meadows Middle School | 6-8 | 886 | 19.3 |
| HOOVER ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 493 | 16.4 |
| MONROE ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 405 | 14.5 |
| BRIDGES COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 250 | 16.7 |
| FUTURES PROGRAM | K-12 | 31 | 2.8 |
| Futures Sun | 1-12 | 17 | — |
| Socrates Online | 1-12 | — | — |
Towns near North Mankato
- Mankato, MN3.4 mi · 44,488 people · home $261,700
- Eagle Lake, MN8.0 mi · 3,278 people · home $276,500
- Lake Crystal, MN10.3 mi · 2,539 people · home $204,400
- St. Peter, MN10.8 mi · 12,066 people · home $250,700
- Le Center, MN20.8 mi · 2,517 people · home $209,600
- Le Sueur, MN21.0 mi · 4,213 people · home $244,000
- New Ulm, MN23.0 mi · 14,120 people · home $204,200
- Waseca, MN27.5 mi · 9,229 people · home $189,200
North Mankato questions
Is North Mankato, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Mankato scores better for retirees than 45% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 8%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in North Mankato?
The median owner-occupied home in North Mankato is valued at $262,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,791, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $973 a month.
What is the weather like in North Mankato?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 5.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 38.7 inches of snow.
Does North Mankato get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Mankato since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 29, 1998. 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)