Why visit Medford
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail and 2 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Bridge No. L-5573 and Daniel S. Piper House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 5°F, and about 44 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Medford
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Medford
Medford is a city in Steele County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, Medford had a population of 1,315.
From the Wikipedia article Medford, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks2
Bridge No. L-5573
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Daniel S. Piper House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Minnesota, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes2
Churches and places of worship2
History
Medford was platted in 1856, and named for Medford Colling, the son of an early settler. A post office has been in operation at Medford since 1855.
From the History section of Medford, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Map of Medford
24 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 5°F | 0.9 in | 9.5 in |
| Feb | 27°F | 9°F | 0.9 in | 10.2 in |
| Mar | 40°F | 22°F | 2.0 in | 6.8 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 3.2 in | 2.6 in |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.6 in | 0.5 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 51°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 59°F | 38°F | 2.5 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 42°F | 25°F | 1.6 in | 3.1 in |
| Dec | 28°F | 13°F | 1.1 in | 11.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Owatonna (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Steele County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2024-06-28: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-06-12: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2016-11-02: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2014-07-21: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Owatonna Municipal Airport (OWA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Owatonna 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Faribault 9 mi north, about 15 min by car
- Kenyon 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
- Dundas 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- Northfield 20 mi north, about 33 min by car
- Dodge Center 22 mi southeast, about 35 min by car
- Lonsdale 23 mi north, about 37 min by car
- Janesville 23 mi west, about 37 min by car
- Blooming Prairie 23 mi southeast, about 37 min by car
- Kasson 26 mi east, about 43 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Medford, Minnesota 5, Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2010-1021-08-BridgeL-5573, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- 2010-1021-DanielSPiperHouse, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.