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Perham, MN

Full City Profile · Minnesota · Otter Tail County County

2.8 /5.0
C+ Fair
3,577 Population 999/sq mi density
$47,088 Median Income $27,057 per capita
$186,000 Home Value $355,197 Zillow
$813 Median Rent 28.5% income on rent
40°F Avg Temperature 253 sunny days/yr
138 Violent Crime/100K 138 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.8 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.3 / 5.0
$47,088 median income, 10.4% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$186,000 home value, $813/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
138 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.3 / 5.0
28.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Perham has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (4°C). Winters average 8°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 253 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.

Temperature

8°F Jan (-14°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average39.8°F
26% below US avg
January Average8°F (-14°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days253 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,368 ft (417 m)
Area3.6 sq mi (9.3 km²)
Population Density999/sq mi
Coordinates46.5996°N, 95.5771°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyOtter Tail County County
Nearest AirportHector International (FAR)
63 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Wettest Month (Jun) 4.37"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.59"

Air Quality

AQI Median36.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score79.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability53.5 / 100
Community Resilience92.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
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 M4.1 117 km
Oct 20, 1995 8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota M3.7 134 km
Apr 29, 2011 Minnesota M2.5 68 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

365 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 4 fatalities, 129 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 8, 2020 EF4 63 km 1
Aug 7, 2010 EF4 97 km 0
Jun 17, 2010 EF4 58 km 1
Jun 17, 2010 EF4 37 km 0
Jun 28, 1975 EF4 93 km 0
Jun 11, 1966 EF4 92 km 0
Jun 6, 2008 EF3 60 km 0
Jun 13, 2001 EF3 51 km 0
Jul 5, 1991 EF3 95 km 0
May 10, 1982 EF3 94 km 0
Aug 26, 1977 EF3 87 km 0
Jun 28, 1975 EF3 82 km 0
Aug 6, 1969 EF3 66 km 0
May 5, 1964 EF3 100 km 0
Aug 30, 1956 EF3 99 km 0
Jul 2, 1955 EF3 86 km 0
Jun 24, 2023 EF2 77 km 0
Jun 24, 2022 EF2 30 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF2 86 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF2 83 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 98 km
2009 CENTER TANK RANGE 6,131 99 km
1988 UNNAMED 4,475 99 km
2003 ROTHSAY 3,015 61 km
2009 HENDRICKSON IMPACT AREA 2,757 98 km
2024 DORAN WMA 2,455 70 km
2009 DOWNING 1,506 69 km
2012 JEEP FIRE 1,437 53 km
2012 SPRING CREEK 1,413 65 km
2000 00 14 1,377 42 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,341 86 km
2007 FLICKERTAIL 1,239 79 km
2011 NEAL WMA 1,213 87 km
1996 UNNAMED 1,153 73 km
1998 UNNAMED 1,026 65 km
1999 HELLIKSEN 993 66 km
2010 UNNAMED 931 93 km
1992 MEADOWS 922 74 km
2010 UNNAMED 888 89 km
2002 1000 AC S 880 41 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 8°F (-14°C) 0.8 in Coldest
February 13°F (-11°C) 0.6 in Driest
March 26°F (-3°C) 1.2 in
April 42°F (6°C) 2.2 in
May 56°F (13°C) 3.0 in
June 65°F (18°C) 4.4 in Wettest
July 68°F (20°C) 3.9 in Warmest
August 68°F (20°C) 3.4 in
September 57°F (14°C) 2.7 in
October 45°F (7°C) 2.4 in
November 27°F (-3°C) 1.1 in
December 12°F (-11°C) 0.8 in

Perham has a seasonal temperature swing of 60°F / from 8°F in January to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 26.3 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.4") and February the driest (0.6").

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