Residence St, 1910
Renville’s story
164 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1910.
- 1862Renville is settled
RenvilleMN
A town of 1,268, settled in 1862.
Population
1,268
2025 Census estimate · −2.5% since 2020
Typical home
$196K
+6.9% in a year
Household income
$69K
median
Median age
29.4
years
Jobs based here
593
Balanced
Is Renville a good place to live?
The best of Renville’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and an A− for safety; the weakest is a C− for incomes. Renville has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Renville stand out
Where Renville beats most towns.
Typical home value
Renville$196K
Minnesota$349K
Cost of livingA+
2.8 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 98% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Renville0
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA−
No violent crime reported in 2025
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Small town
1,268 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Renville grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Renville is from typical.
Cost of livingA+Open →Jobs & income$69K median household income; 593 jobs based hereC−Open →SafetyA−Open →SchoolsCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 33% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9 of 20; 7.8% of households have no car; 1.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →HealthLess healthy than 53% of U.S. towns; Olivia Hospital & Clinic 11 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsCOpen →History1 notable person born hereC+Open →Civic life10.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 83° summer afternoons, 44″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 29.4; 19% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Renville: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Renville, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRenville water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Renville’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRenville County CourthouseRenville County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2024
ZIP code5628456284 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Renville.
HousingCost of living grade A+
Renville stands out in Minnesota and nationally, with the median rent lower than most
Zillow values the typical Renville home at about $196,000, up 6.9% in a year, 44% below the Minnesota typical home. The share of households in Renville who own their home is 70%, against 75% in Minnesota’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns.
$196KZillow home value
| Renville | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $676 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Renville$196K
Minnesota$349K
+6.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsC
Renville’s schools rank behind 68% of Minnesota districts
Its two schools are below. The Renville County West Schools runs its public schools. The 2 public schools in Renville teach 548 students between them.
32%of MN districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renville County West ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 329 | C |
| Renville County West Senior HighLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 219 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
SafetyA−
Crime per resident in Renville is lower than in 77% of U.S. towns
The property offense rate for Renville comes to 3.5 per 1,000 residents. The town recorded no violent offenses.
77%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Renville | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.5 per 1,000 residents | 8.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Renville0
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Renville3.5
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
77th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
6
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Renville: snowy winters and pleasant summers
Renville’s July high is 83°F, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 82°F and U.S. towns at 85°F.
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–26°
Spring34–55°
Summer59–81°
Fall37–58°
Oct 4
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Low risk in Renville, with inland flooding at the top
Expected losses in Renville break down as 46% from inland flooding and 16% from cold waves. FEMA expects less storm and flood damage locally than in 67% of U.S. communities. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Renville after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2019.
33risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
About one in eight working residents works right in Renville
The top destinations are Redwood Falls (15%), Emmet Township (12%) and Olivia (7%). For most workers, Renville is a place to come home to: only 13% work in town. The average trip to work here is 18 minutes.
13%work in town
| Renville | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $69,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 9.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Renville13%
Redwood Falls15%
Emmet Township12%
Olivia7%
Willmar5%
18 mi
median commute distance
593
jobs based in Renville
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 63% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB−
Compared with most of Minnesota and the rest of the country, more of Renville’s adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance
The share of adults in Renville who binge drink: 16%. Only 7 of the 272 Minnesota towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Renville. Among adults here, 29% sleep under 7 hours and 13% have diabetes. Of 32 CDC measures, Renville beats the Minnesota average on 1 and trails it on 13.
47%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Renville | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 7.3% | 8.1% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 23% | 25% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 10% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better18 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Renville | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.3% | 76.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 21.1% | 8.9% |
Olivia Hospital & Clinic
11 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 843 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. O'Conner Field | — | 15 |
| 2. Water Tower Park | — | 3 |
| 3. Memorial Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 9 attractions →Fagen Fighters WWII Museum and 3 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Renville. Close and well known come first.
18 mi MuseumFagen Fighters WWII Museum
20 mi MuseumSwensson Farm Museum17 mi City parkAlexander Ramsey Park
20 mi MuseumRenville County Historical Museum
20 mi MuseumSwensson Farm Museum17 mi City parkAlexander Ramsey Park20 mi MuseumRenville County Historical MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Swensson Farm Museum: Myotus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Renville County Historical Museum: Myotus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Renville
20pages on Renville
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 68% of MN districts · 2 schoolsSafetyA−0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than MN on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA+$196K typical home · up 6.9% in a yearWork & commuteC−$69K median household income · 593 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 33% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Renville; the nearest are
Minnesota West Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Granite Falls17.5 mi$6,491 in-state tuitionSouthwest Minnesota State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Marshall35.9 mi$10,361 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Renville residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
About Renville
City in Minnesota, United States
Renville is a city in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,301 at the 2020 census. U.S. Route 212 and County Highway 6 are two of the main routes in the city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1878
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,073 ft
- ZIP code
- 56284
- Area code
- 320
Questions about Renville
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Renville, MN expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.