© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Lake Elmo.
About
Life in Lake Elmo
Lake Elmo is a community of 12,504 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $153,407, and median home values are around $597,000. Unemployment is low at 3.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Lake Elmo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Foreign-Born
4.6%
Broadband Internet
94.9%
of households
Population Growth
+26.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lake Elmo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake Elmo, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.6%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.0%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.5%
of households
Married Couples
74.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.78
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Living
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Elmo
In Lake Elmo, home values are 81% above the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
78.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
46.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,841
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
93.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2004
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $643,791 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below MN average
Unemployment in Lake Elmo and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Washington County, which includes Lake Elmo, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Lake Elmo: Washington County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Washington County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lake Elmo is about 5% of Washington County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lake Elmo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute22.8 min avg
How Lake Elmo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Elmo, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 83% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, which covers Lake Elmo, runs 83% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
55.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
382.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Washington County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washington County, which includes Lake Elmo, the most common type is winter storm, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | Lightning | $3,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Heavy Snow | $1.5M |
| 2018 | 10 | Winter Storm | $500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washington County, county-wide
Lake Elmo is about 5% of Washington County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washington County, which includes Lake Elmo, is typically good.
Median AQI
34
Washington County, county-wide
Lake Elmo is about 5% of Washington County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 8°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Elmo has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 8°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
57°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/8°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.6"
Annual Snowfall
40.4"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
159
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 5°F | 0.85" |
| Feb | 28°F | 8°F | 0.92" |
| Mar | 41°F | 20°F | 1.62" |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 2.97" |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 4.17" |
| Jun | 76°F | 58°F | 4.79" |
| Jul | 79°F | 62°F | 4.38" |
| Aug | 78°F | 60°F | 4.41" |
| Sep | 71°F | 51°F | 3.32" |
| Oct | 58°F | 38°F | 2.74" |
| Nov | 41°F | 25°F | 1.82" |
| Dec | 28°F | 13°F | 1.21" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Elmo
Uninsured
1.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lake Elmo's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Lakeview Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Stillwater
M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Woodbury
M Health Fairview St John's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Maplewood
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Elmo
Lake Elmo's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 61.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
61.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lake Elmo (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,616 students · in-state tuition $10,382 · 58% graduate · median earnings $66,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Concordia University-Saint Paul
12.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,018 students · in-state tuition $26,400 · 62% graduate · median earnings $65,009 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,473 students · in-state tuition $53,214 · 57% graduate · median earnings $64,729 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,193 students · in-state tuition $6,583 · 28% graduate · median earnings $56,727 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,131 students · in-state tuition $70,862 · 89% graduate · median earnings $69,951 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Elmo
Lake Elmo has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
10 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
55 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake Elmo
Lake Elmo Library
3537 Lake Elmo Ave N, Lake Elmo
Cities Near Lake Elmo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake Elmo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake Elmo FAQ
Is Lake Elmo, Minnesota safe?⌄
Lake Elmo is policed by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 55 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 383 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Elmo, Minnesota?⌄
Washington County, which includes Lake Elmo, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
How is the commute in Lake Elmo, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Lake Elmo is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from