The Town FilesWillmar, Minnesota
City in Kandiyohi County · population 21,015 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,400
- Household income
- $62,280
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 35.5
Willmar is a city of 21,015 people in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $198,400, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 93% of Minnesota towns.
How Willmar 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 Willmar is worth $198,400, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $62,280, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 59.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willmar | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $910 | $991 |
| Median household income | $62,280 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Willmar
| People | Willmar | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 12.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Willmar
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 2.9°F. About 28.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willmar since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 11, 2008 about 2.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 9, 2022.
Severe weather in Kandiyohi County since 1996
Kandiyohi County has been included in 16 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 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kandiyohi County
Kandiyohi County had 23,173 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,980 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Willmar itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Willmar
14 public schools with 4,318 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLMAR SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,218 | 16.9 |
| WILLMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 842 | 14.0 |
| KENNEDY ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 702 | 13.0 |
| ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 629 | 14.3 |
| Lakeland Elementary School | PK-5 | 578 | 13.8 |
| WILLMAR AREA LEARNING CENTER | 9-12 | 92 | 8.4 |
| JEFFERSON LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | 82 | 6.8 |
| DREAM Technical Academy (charter) | 7-12 | 74 | 24.7 |
| Middle School ALC | 6-8 | 28 | — |
| Prairie Lakes Education Center | 4-12 | 26 | 3.3 |
| SWWC ELC - Willmar | K-12 | 24 | 3.4 |
| Lake Park School | 4-12 | 17 | — |
Towns near Willmar
- New London, MN12.3 mi · 2,952 people · home $351,400
- Litchfield, MN26.0 mi · 6,624 people · home $187,600
- Benson, MN29.8 mi · 3,480 people · home $156,000
Willmar questions
Is Willmar, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willmar scores better for retirees than 13% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 4%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Willmar?
The median owner-occupied home in Willmar is valued at $198,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,280, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in Willmar?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 2.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.7 inches of precipitation a year and 46.1 inches of snow.
Does Willmar get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willmar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 11, 2008. 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)