The Town FilesWinona, Minnesota
City in Winona County · population 25,948 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,800
- Household income
- $56,337
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 31.3
Winona is a city of 25,948 people in Winona County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $201,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 99% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 98% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 97% of Minnesota towns.
How Winona 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 Winona is worth $201,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $56,337, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $882 a month. 58.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winona | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $882 | $991 |
| Median household income | $56,337 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Winona
| People | Winona | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Winona
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 34.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winona since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 21, 2024 about 8.4 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 84 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 17, 2021.
Severe weather in Winona County since 1996
Winona County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 13, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1941: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 23, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1717: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Winona County
Winona County had 24,022 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,828 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Winona itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Winona
13 public schools with 2,855 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WINONA SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 859 | 18.3 |
| WINONA MIDDLE | 5-8 | 637 | 13.8 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 324 | 11.6 |
| WASHINGTON-KOSCIUSKO ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 269 | 11.2 |
| BLUFFVIEW MONTESSORI (charter) | K-8 | 214 | 7.4 |
| GOODVIEW ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 190 | 11.9 |
| WINONA AREA LEARNING CENTER | 5-12 | 83 | 11.9 |
| RIVERWAY SECONDARY (charter) | 7-12 | 68 | 34.0 |
| Riverway Learning Community Charter (charter) | PK-6 | 59 | 11.8 |
| WINONA EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL ED. | PK-PK | 55 | 5.5 |
| RIVER VALLEY ACADEMY ALC | 7-12 | 48 | 48.0 |
| HVED ECSE | PK-PK | 33 | 33.0 |
Towns near Winona
- Goodview, MN2.6 mi · 4,158 people · home $254,200
- Arcadia, WI16.2 mi · 3,737 people · home $169,500
- Holland, WI17.7 mi · 4,530 people · home $374,400
- St. Charles, MN20.3 mi · 3,990 people · home $256,600
- Holmen, WI20.7 mi · 10,661 people · home $285,900
- Onalaska, WI21.5 mi · 5,835 people · home $320,100
- Campbell, WI21.8 mi · 4,284 people · home $207,100
- La Crescent, MN23.7 mi · 5,276 people · home $272,400
Winona questions
Is Winona, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winona scores better for retirees than 22% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 4%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.3).
How much does a house cost in Winona?
The median owner-occupied home in Winona is valued at $201,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,337, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $882 a month.
What is the weather like in Winona?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.4 inches of precipitation a year and 37.6 inches of snow.
Does Winona get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 21, 2024. 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)