The Town FilesRed Wing, Minnesota
City in Goodhue County · population 16,547 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $237,300
- Household income
- $67,192
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 42.0
Red Wing is a city of 16,547 people in Goodhue County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $237,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 96% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 93% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 90% of Minnesota towns.
How Red Wing 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 Red Wing is worth $237,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $67,192, which is more affordable than 45% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $969 a month. 72.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Wing | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $237,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $969 | $991 |
| Median household income | $67,192 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 72.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Red Wing
| People | Red Wing | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Red Wing
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 5.7°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Wing since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 27, 1987 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 30, 1985.
Severe weather in Goodhue County since 1996
Goodhue County has been included in 18 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 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Goodhue County
Goodhue County had 21,366 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,513 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Red Wing itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Red Wing
13 public schools with 2,521 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Wing Senior High | 8-12 | 820 | 19.1 |
| Burnside Elementary | 2-4 | 501 | 13.5 |
| Twin Bluff School | 5-7 | 500 | 14.7 |
| SUNNYSIDE ELEMENTARY | K-1 | 342 | 13.7 |
| Creekstone Montessori (charter) | K-7 | 88 | 22.0 |
| COLVILL FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER | PK-PK | 68 | 8.5 |
| Tower View Alternative High School | 10-12 | 58 | — |
| MCF-Red Wing Maginnis High School | 8-12 | 57 | — |
| Reach Programs | PK-12 | 56 | 4.7 |
| Pathways Program Grades 8-12 | 8-12 | 31 | — |
| Red Wing HS Credit Recovery | 9-12 | — | — |
| GCED Credit Recovery | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Red Wing
- Ellsworth, WI12.3 mi · 3,348 people · home $262,200
- Cannon Falls, MN14.7 mi · 4,220 people · home $263,300
- Prescott, WI14.9 mi · 4,333 people · home $306,900
- Hastings, MN16.1 mi · 22,154 people · home $322,400
- Lake City, MN18.5 mi · 5,252 people · home $238,700
- River Falls, WI19.3 mi · 16,182 people · home $327,600
- Zumbrota, MN20.0 mi · 3,726 people · home $249,300
- Cottage Grove, MN22.1 mi · 38,839 people · home $378,800
Red Wing questions
Is Red Wing, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Wing scores better for retirees than 34% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 16%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Red Wing?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Wing is valued at $237,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,192, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $969 a month.
What is the weather like in Red Wing?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 5.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 44.1 inches of snow.
Does Red Wing get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Wing since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 27, 1987. 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)