City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Tower, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Tower - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

427
Residents
$60,156
Median income
$113,600
Median home
$1,232
Median rent (state)

Tower - the verdict

Nationally, Tower sits in the 35th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

35th
percentile, household income
15th
percentile, home value
39th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Tower, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 427 residents in Tower, a small town within Minnesota. The typical household in Tower brings in $60,156 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.5%. Tower's housing stock carries a median value of $113,600, and the median resident age is 49.2 years. 15.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 50.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 6 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). NOAA puts Tower's yearly average temperature at 36.9°F with 28.2 inches of precipitation per year and 68.7 inches of snowfall.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,232 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 91.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

427 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$60,156 /yr

Poverty 12.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Tower compare to other US cities?

Here's how Tower stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 35% higher than other cities
Home value 15% pricier than other cities
Median rent 39% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Tower's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Minnesota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

35thIncome percentile

35th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Tower's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$113,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 85% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Tower $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Tower, MN Tower, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Tower, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Tower, MN median $60,156/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Tower, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Tower, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
427
Median Income
$60,156
Median Home Value
$113,600
Median Age
49.2
Poverty Rate
12.5%
Labor force participation
50.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
36.9°F
Annual Precipitation
28.2"
Annual Snowfall
68.7"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
416 residents418 residents420 residents422 residents424 residents426 residents 202020212022202320242025 424 residents 422 residents ▼ -0.5%
Tower's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
6
housing units authorized
Single-Family
6
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
14.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 1
2022 0
2023 0
2024 6

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.0%
Carpool
2.7%
Public Transit
2.2%
Walk
4.3%
Work from Home
17.2%
Other
2.6%

Based on 186 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Tower sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,232/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Chokio
427 people
Cook
427 people
Crown College
426 people
Fisher
426 people
Herman
428 people
Bigfork
430 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Tower's 427 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Nunn, CO
427 people
Chain-O-Lakes, IN
427 people
Wilkinson, IN
427 people
Little River, KS
427 people
Provencal, LA
427 people
Cordova, MD
427 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Tower's $60,156 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tallula, IL
$60,156 median income
Ashton, IA
$60,156 median income
Blue Springs, MS
$60,156 median income
Caledonia, MO
$60,156 median income
Bridgeville, PA
$60,156 median income
Villa Pancho, TX
$60,163 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Tower, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Tower, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.6% White 86.9% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 2.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.9% Two or more races 5.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Tower compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Tower (this city) 427 $60,156
Chokio 427 $50,556
Cook 427 $41,750
Crown College 426 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Tower, MN?

What is the population of Tower, MN? +

427 people live in Tower, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Tower, MN? +

The median household income in Tower is $60,156 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Tower? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Tower; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Tower, MN? +

A typical home in Tower is worth $113,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Tower? +

Tower has an average annual temperature of 36.9°F, 28.2 inches of precipitation, and 68.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.