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Paynesville, MN

Full City Profile · Minnesota · Stearns County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
2,476 Population 1,081/sq mi density
$72,105 Median Income $35,009 per capita
$168,800 Home Value $218,453 Zillow
$791 Median Rent 23.9% income on rent
43°F Avg Temperature 270 sunny days/yr
80 Violent Crime/100K 40 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$72,105 median income, 1.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$168,800 home value, $791/mo rent
F
Safety
1.3 / 5.0
80 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.2 / 5.0
27.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Paynesville has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winters average 11°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 270 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 31.4 inches. The area receives 50.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.

Temperature

11°F Jan (-12°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average43.0°F
20% below US avg
January Average11°F (-12°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days270 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,175 ft (358 m)
Area2.3 sq mi (6.0 km²)
Population Density1,081/sq mi
Coordinates45.3785°N, 94.7216°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyStearns County County
Nearest AirportSt Cloud Regional (STC)
34 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 31.4"
17% below US avg
Snowfall 50.2"
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.57"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.71"

Air Quality

AQI Median36.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0456 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.7 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score87.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability24.1 / 100
Community Resilience96.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

4 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M2.8 on Apr 25, 2017.

Jun 5, 1993 11 km N of Johnson, Minnesota M4.1 127 km
Feb 9, 1994 6 km NNE of Blomkest, Minnesota M3.1 47 km
Apr 25, 2017 Near Mankato, Minnesota M2.8 144 km
Apr 29, 2011 Minnesota M2.5 93 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

453 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 10 fatalities, 343 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 17, 2010 EF4 96 km 1
Jul 25, 2000 EF4 92 km 1
Jun 19, 1951 EF4 62 km 1
Jul 11, 2008 EF3 47 km 0
Jun 13, 2001 EF3 100 km 0
Sep 18, 1997 EF3 93 km 1
Jul 1, 1997 EF3 62 km 0
Jun 16, 1992 EF3 55 km 0
Sep 3, 1980 EF3 43 km 1
May 6, 1965 EF3 89 km 0
Jun 18, 1964 EF3 65 km 0
May 5, 1964 EF3 23 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF2 65 km 0
Jul 11, 2016 EF2 32 km 0
Jul 11, 2016 EF2 26 km 0
Jul 14, 2009 EF2 58 km 0
Sep 16, 2006 EF2 88 km 1
Jun 24, 2003 EF2 79 km 0
Jun 13, 2001 EF2 69 km 0
Jun 11, 2001 EF2 71 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (9,055 ac, 2007).

Year Name Acres Distance
2007 UNNAMED 9,055 97 km
2009 CENTER TANK RANGE 6,131 94 km
2002 UNIT 4 5,887 75 km
2003 UNITS 37 38 39 A 4,879 82 km
1998 UNITS 1617 4,649 81 km
1988 UNNAMED 4,475 93 km
2005 RX HFR 05 4,253 81 km
2009 BU9 4,112 75 km
2007 WUI 07 - UNIT 36 4,025 82 km
2000 UNIT 25 3,412 82 km
2009 BU11 3,242 77 km
1997 BIG 2,987 80 km
2003 UNITS 34 33 W 2,637 80 km
2024 UNIT 8E RX 2,551 77 km
1992 SHARPTAIL 2,288 80 km
1988 UNNAMED 2,243 89 km
2010 WUI 10 UNIT D 2,042 80 km
1996 UNNAMED 1,906 83 km
2009 EAST TANK RANGE 1,801 90 km
2006 UNIT 4 1,732 76 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 11°F (-12°C) 0.8 in Coldest
February 17°F (-8°C) 0.7 in Driest
March 29°F (-1°C) 1.6 in
April 45°F (7°C) 2.5 in
May 58°F (15°C) 3.4 in
June 67°F (20°C) 4.6 in Wettest
July 72°F (22°C) 3.4 in Warmest
August 69°F (21°C) 3.5 in
September 59°F (15°C) 3.2 in
October 47°F (8°C) 2.4 in
November 30°F (-1°C) 1.3 in
December 16°F (-9°C) 0.8 in

Paynesville has a seasonal temperature swing of 61°F / from 11°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 28.1 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.6") and February the driest (0.7").

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