The Town FilesStaples, Minnesota
City in Todd County · population 2,989 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $130,000
- Household income
- $52,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.1
Staples is a city of 2,989 people in Todd County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $130,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 86% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 76% of Minnesota towns.
How Staples 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 Staples is worth $130,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $52,071, which is more affordable than 84% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $844 a month. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Staples | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $844 | $991 |
| Median household income | $52,071 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Staples
| People | Staples | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 12.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Staples
July highs average 78.0°F and January lows -1.5°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Staples since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 30, 2022 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 17, 2010.
Severe weather in Todd County since 1996
Todd County has been included in 13 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 |
| July 8, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4658: 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 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Todd County
Todd County had 7,081 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,332 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Staples itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Staples
3 public schools with 888 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STAPLES-MOTLEY SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 318 | 16.7 |
| MOTLEY-STAPLES MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 291 | 15.3 |
| Staples-Motley Elementary | PK-4 | 279 | 10.7 |
Towns near Staples
- Wadena, MN15.7 mi · 4,325 people · home $160,800
- Sylvan, MN20.0 mi · 2,889 people · home $298,200
- Baxter, MN25.8 mi · 8,612 people · home $324,100
- Long Prairie, MN27.5 mi · 3,661 people · home $152,000
- Brainerd, MN29.4 mi · 14,395 people · home $192,500
Staples questions
Is Staples, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Staples scores better for retirees than 32% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 42%. 29.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Staples?
The median owner-occupied home in Staples is valued at $130,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,071, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $844 a month.
What is the weather like in Staples?
July highs average 78.0°F and January lows -1.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 50.8 inches of snow.
Does Staples get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Staples since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 30, 2022. 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)