The Town FilesNorthfield, Minnesota
City in Rice County · population 20,790 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $329,400
- Household income
- $84,895
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 28.2
Northfield is a city of 20,790 people in Rice County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $329,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 94% of Minnesota towns.
How Northfield 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 Northfield is worth $329,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $84,895, which is more affordable than 26% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,103 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northfield | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $329,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,103 | $991 |
| Median household income | $84,895 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Northfield
| People | Northfield | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Northfield
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 4.8°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northfield since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 24, 2006 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 19, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 3.30 inches on April 13, 2026.
Severe weather in Rice County since 1996
Rice County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Rice County
Rice County had 26,196 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,604 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Northfield itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Northfield
13 public schools with 4,154 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHFIELD SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,295 | 22.3 |
| NORTHFIELD MIDDLE | 6-8 | 850 | 19.3 |
| BRIDGEWATER ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 563 | 14.4 |
| GREENVALE PARK ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 482 | 12.4 |
| Spring Creek Elementary | K-5 | 462 | 13.2 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (charter) | K-5 | 179 | 12.8 |
| NORTHFIELD AREA LEARNING CENTER | 6-12 | 131 | 21.8 |
| ARCADIA CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | 6-12 | 100 | 10.0 |
| Northfield Community Education Cntr | PK-PK | 92 | 5.4 |
| Big 9 Online Middle School | 6-8 | — | — |
| School Readiness Plus | PK-K | — | — |
| Big 9 Online High School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Northfield
- Elko New Market, MN11.2 mi · 4,846 people · home $433,100
- Faribault, MN12.0 mi · 24,453 people · home $241,500
- Lonsdale, MN12.6 mi · 4,686 people · home $357,000
- New Market, MN12.7 mi · 3,525 people · home $595,300
- Farmington, MN14.1 mi · 23,632 people · home $366,200
- Cannon Falls, MN14.5 mi · 4,220 people · home $263,300
- Lakeville, MN15.8 mi · 69,490 people · home $452,500
- Cedar Lake, MN17.2 mi · 3,050 people · home $543,100
Northfield questions
Is Northfield, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northfield scores better for retirees than 48% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 7%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.2).
How much does a house cost in Northfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Northfield is valued at $329,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,895, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,103 a month.
What is the weather like in Northfield?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 4.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42.1 inches of snow.
Does Northfield get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 24, 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)