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Detroit Lakes, MN

Full City Profile · Minnesota · Becker County County

3.3 /5.0
B Good
10,002 Population 845/sq mi density
$62,123 Median Income $46,126 per capita
$246,200 Home Value $353,478 Zillow
$925 Median Rent 29.5% income on rent
40°F Avg Temperature 276 sunny days/yr
150 Violent Crime/100K 2,873 property/100K
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$62,123 median income, 3.0% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$246,200 home value, $925/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
150 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.6 / 5.0
32.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Detroit Lakes has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (4°C). Winters average 7°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 276 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 29.5 inches. The area receives 47.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.

Temperature

7°F Jan (-14°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average40.1°F
26% below US avg
January Average7°F (-14°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days276 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,344 ft (410 m)
Area15.2 sq mi (39.4 km²)
Population Density845/sq mi
Coordinates46.8076°N, 95.8466°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyBecker County County
Nearest AirportHector International (FAR)
46 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 29.5"
23% below US avg
Snowfall 47.6"
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.21"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.51"

Air Quality

AQI Median36.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0425 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.3 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score37.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability40.4 / 100
Community Resilience85.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Very Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

3 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M2.5 on Apr 29, 2011.

Jun 5, 1993 11 km N of Johnson, Minnesota M4.1 131 km
Oct 20, 1995 8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota M3.7 138 km
Apr 29, 2011 Minnesota M2.5 94 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

393 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 11 fatalities, 164 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 8, 2020 EF4 80 km 1
Aug 7, 2010 EF4 98 km 0
Jun 17, 2010 EF4 67 km 0
Jun 17, 2010 EF4 86 km 1
Jun 28, 1975 EF4 68 km 0
Jul 2, 1955 EF4 94 km 2
Jun 17, 2010 EF3 96 km 1
Jun 6, 2008 EF3 66 km 0
Jun 13, 2001 EF3 81 km 0
May 10, 1982 EF3 100 km 0
Jun 28, 1975 EF3 56 km 0
Aug 6, 1969 EF3 86 km 0
Aug 30, 1956 EF3 73 km 0
Jul 2, 1955 EF3 73 km 0
Jun 24, 2023 EF2 50 km 0
Jun 24, 2022 EF2 13 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF2 90 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF2 97 km 0
May 12, 2022 EF2 100 km 0
May 12, 2022 EF2 79 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: ROTHSAY (3,015 ac, 2003).

Year Name Acres Distance
2003 ROTHSAY 3,015 51 km
2024 DORAN WMA 2,455 78 km
2010 NELSON PRAIRIE MIDDLE WPA 1,779 74 km
2009 DOWNING 1,506 41 km
2012 JEEP FIRE 1,437 78 km
2012 SPRING CREEK 1,413 37 km
2000 00 14 1,377 26 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,341 76 km
2010 BEJOU WMA 1,270 73 km
2007 FLICKERTAIL 1,239 49 km
2011 NEAL WMA 1,213 56 km
1996 UNNAMED 1,153 47 km
1998 UNNAMED 1,026 36 km
1999 HELLIKSEN 993 36 km
2010 UNNAMED 931 67 km
1992 MEADOWS 922 64 km
2010 UNNAMED 888 62 km
2002 1000 AC S 880 25 km
2005 HILLICKSON 05 818 34 km
1989 UNNAMED 807 37 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 7°F (-14°C) 0.7 in Coldest
February 13°F (-11°C) 0.5 in Driest
March 25°F (-4°C) 1.0 in
April 41°F (5°C) 1.7 in
May 55°F (13°C) 2.9 in
June 64°F (18°C) 4.2 in Wettest
July 68°F (20°C) 3.7 in Warmest
August 67°F (20°C) 3.4 in
September 57°F (14°C) 2.8 in
October 45°F (7°C) 2.2 in
November 27°F (-3°C) 1.0 in
December 11°F (-12°C) 0.6 in

Detroit Lakes has a seasonal temperature swing of 62°F / from 7°F in January to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 24.7 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (0.5").

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