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Living in
Red Wing.
About
Life in Red Wing
Living in Red Wing means settling into a genuinely stable, tight-knit community where you're actually part of something—not just passing through. The economy here is anchored by real manufacturing (Red Wing Shoes, Riedell Skates, Red Wing Stoneware), which has kept the job market steady with a 3.9% unemployment rate, though you'll want to be realistic about finding specialized work; many people commute the 19.6 minutes to Minneapolis-Saint Paul for broader career options. The community calendar runs year-round—Big Turn Music Fest in February, the Prairie Island Indian Community Wacipi in July, River City Days in August, and a Hispanic Heritage Festival in September—meaning there's consistent local culture and connection if you engage.
Red Wing at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.8%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
93.0%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Red Wing: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Red Wing, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (35.0%), and 3.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
20.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.4%
of households
Married Couples
42.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
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 Livingrent 24% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Red Wing
In Red Wing, rent runs 24% below the MN average, and home values are 28% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,776
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $281,503 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Red Wing
Unemployment in Goodhue County, which includes Red Wing, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Red Wing: Goodhue County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Goodhue County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Red Wing Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.6 min avg
How Red Wing residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Red Wing, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 40 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 37% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Red Wing runs 37% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
208
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,473.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Red Wing Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
43.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Goodhue County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Goodhue County, which includes Red Wing, the most common type is winter storm, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 12 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 10 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Winter Storm | $3.1M |
| 2020 | 9 | Winter Storm | $200,000 |
| 2019 | 16 | Winter Storm | $150,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Winter Storm | $423,000 |
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
Goodhue County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Goodhue County, which includes Red Wing, is typically good.
Median AQI
38
Goodhue County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Red Wing has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
32.4"
Annual Snowfall
44.1"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 6°F | 0.78" |
| Feb | 28°F | 9°F | 0.88" |
| Mar | 41°F | 22°F | 1.67" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 2.88" |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 4.06" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 5.09" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.82" |
| Aug | 80°F | 60°F | 4.45" |
| Sep | 73°F | 52°F | 3.66" |
| Oct | 59°F | 39°F | 2.48" |
| Nov | 42°F | 26°F | 1.63" |
| Dec | 29°F | 14°F | 1.01" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Red Wing
Red Wing has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Mayo Clinic Health System in Red Wing
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Red Wing
Red Wing's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Red Wing
Red Wing has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
35 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
78 mi awayPublic Libraries in Red Wing
Red Wing Public Library
225 East Avenue, Red Wing
Cities Near Red Wing
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Red Wing?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Red Wing FAQ
Is Red Wing, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Red Wing's median rent is $969/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $67,192/year. Median home value is $237,300.
Is Red Wing, Minnesota safe?⌄
Red Wing's violent crime rate was 208 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1474 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Red Wing, Minnesota?⌄
Goodhue County, which includes Red Wing, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Red Wing, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Red Wing is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $969/month and median household income is $67,192/year. The median home value is $237,300. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Red Wing, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Red Wing is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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