Is Russell a good place to live?
Only 2 of the 257 Minnesota towns we compare have a lower midpoint rent than Russell. Russell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
356 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Russell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Russell, and how to reach them.
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 Russell.
A typical Russell home is worth about $214K
Values rose 11% in the 12 months to September 2026. Among households in Russell, 91% live in a home they own, above both the Minnesota town median (75%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%).
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
In Russell, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Russell’s typical July afternoon high is 82°F, close to Minnesota’s towns (82°F) and below U.S. towns (85°F).
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
About two in five of Russell’s working residents commute to Marshall
The top destinations are Marshall (38%), Tracy (4%) and Slayton (4%). Most working residents leave Russell for work: only 5% work in town. Also worth knowing: since 2013, Russell has lost 72 jobs, to 131 in 2023. The middle household income for Russell comes to $57,000.
| Russell | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $57,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.5% | 9.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
How healthy Russell is
Russell: 15% of adults smoke cigarettes. 29% of adults in Russell sleep under 7 hours; 29% feel lonely.
| Russell | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The biggest natural risk in Russell is inland flooding, at a high overall level
Federal aid has come to Russell households in 3 declared disasters; the latest was in 2019. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in three fifths of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects here, 43% come from inland flooding and 17% from drought.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Everything we know about Russell
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Russell
About 2 of every 100 Russell residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
About Russell
City in Minnesota, United States
Russell is a city in Lyon County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 348 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,522 ft
- ZIP code
- 56169
- Area code
- 507
Questions about Russell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Russell, MN a good place to live?
Russell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.