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Town of Thomson
Minnesota›Carlton County
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Thomson TownshipMN

Public schools that outperform most of Minnesota.

6 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Lorie Shaull · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of Thomson Township

Thomson Township, MN · Photo: Lorie Shaull · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗

Population
5,624
2025 Census estimate · +2.9% since 2020
Median home value
$339K
Census ACS
Household income
$119K
median
Median age
42.5
years
Jobs based here
621
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#81 of 271 in MN

Is Thomson Township a good place to live?

Thomson Township's standout: its schools outperform 96% of the state's. Overall it grades A, ranked 81st of 271 in Minnesota. The median household earns $119K and residents are healthier than 86% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its weakest subject is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 70% of U.S. communities, with cold waves at the top. Jay Cooke State Park, at 2,409 acres with 18.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Thomson Township’s January low is 1°F, below both Minnesota’s towns (6°F) and U.S. towns (22°F).

StrongestA+SchoolsAJobs & incomeAHealthWeakestC−Hazard risk

What makes Thomson Township stand out

Where Thomson Township beats most towns.

ESKO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
SchoolGradesStudents
Winterquist ElementaryPK–6684
Lincoln Secondary7–12603
SchoolsA+
#10 of the 274 Minnesota towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
Cooke, Jay, State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic District
History
Founded in 1870
4 places on the National Register
A history going back 156 years.
A commuter town

93% of working residents leave Thomson Township for work

Where Thomson Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

40% → Duluth Duluth 40% 15% → Cloquet Cloquet 15% 5% → Superior Superior 5% 3% → Hermantown Hermantown 3% 2% → Carlton Carlton 2% 2% → Minneapolis Minneapolis 2% Thomson Township · 7% stay
621jobs based in Thomson Township
7%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

How Thomson Township grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Thomson Township is from typical.

How grading works
SchoolsA+Open →Jobs & incomeAOpen →HealthCommunity Memorial Hospital 4.9 miles awayAOpen →Hazard riskcold waves tops the listC−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $339K, 4.7 years of the Duluth metro’s $72K median household incomeCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.3 of 20; 0% of households have no car; 2.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors10% conserved landB+Open →HistoryBOpen →Civic life4.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 42.5–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Cooke, Jay, State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic District
Cooke, Jay, State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic District · National Register of Historic Places
Thomson Township’s story

156 years in pictures

Cooke, Jay, State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic District is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier.

Census counts: 207 in 1900, a low of 76 in 1930, 159 in 2010. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2003 and 5 maps from 1954 on.

4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • 1870Thomson Township is founded
Explore the history →
Getting set up

Moving to Thomson Township: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Thomson Township, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerMinnesota Power15.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet6 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offLandfill, 4 miOpenStreetMap
SchoolsEsko Public School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
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.gov
Who runs elections hereCarlton County AuditorCarlton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2024
ZIP codes55733, 55810, 5572055733 92% · 55810 6% · 55720 2%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 Thomson Township.

Thomson Township has schools in the top 5% of Minnesota and has a shorter frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Minnesota (mostly cold waves).

SchoolsA+

Thomson Township’s grade for schools is an A+

Its A+ ranks #10 of the 274 Minnesota towns we grade for schools. Its A+ is the best School Grade on its borders; Solway Township (B+) is next.

Its public schools are run by the Esko Public School District. Its two schools are below. The largest public high school is Lincoln Secondary, with 603 students.

96%of MN districts it outscoresA+School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Winterquist ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6Grades PK–6684A+
Lincoln SecondaryLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12Grades 7–12603A
Full pageThomson Township’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsESKO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTVs. the neighborsAhead of all 4 graded neighborsEvery school2 schools · Winterquist ElementaryQuestions“Are Thomson Township’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation

HealthA

Thomson Township’s grade for health is an A

Its A for health tops all 4 graded neighbors; Midway Township (B+) comes closest. Its widest gap with Minnesota is food insecurity: 7.3% of its 4,347 adults worry about having enough food, against 11.4% statewide.

21% of adults binge drink in Thomson Township. Thomson Township beats the Minnesota average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 11% of adults report frequent physical distress in Thomson Township.

86%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
Thomson TownshipMinnesota townsU.S. towns
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)21%18%16%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)11%12%14%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)14%16%17%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)13%16%19%
32 measures vs. Minnesota
9 better23 too close to call0 worse
What stands outThomson TownshipMN
Fewer adults facing food insecurity7.3%11.4%
Fewer uninsured adults5.2%7.5%
Community Memorial Hospital
4.9 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
73rd
percentile among MN towns
Full pageThomson Township’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore binge drinkersHospitals & doctors nearby4.9 miles to an ER · Community Memorial HospitalHow adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor healthEvery CDC estimateBetter than MN on 9 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

OutdoorsB+

Conserved land covers 9.7% of Thomson Township

19 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.

#125for trails in MN
Thomson TownshipMinnesota townsU.S. towns
Conserved land9.7%4.6%4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile0.5 miles per square mile0.50.4
9.7%
conserved · 2,480 of 25,483 acres
19 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Jay Cooke State Park18.3 mi2,409
2. Gichigami Ziibi WMA—537
3. Northridge Park—4
Full pageThomson Township’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map19 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk18.3 miles of trail · Jay Cooke State ParkConserved land9.7% conserved · 2,480 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Thomson Township?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Work & commuteJobs & income grade A

About two in five of Thomson Township’s working residents commute to Duluth

Thomson Township has 621 jobs for its 2,563 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.

Most working residents leave Thomson Township for work: only 7% work in town. The average trip to work in Thomson Township is 19 minutes. Jobs based in Thomson Township grew to 621 in 2023, 91 more than in 2013.

7%work in town
Thomson TownshipMinnesota townsU.S. towns
Median household income$119,000$90,000$80,000
Average trip to work19 minutes23 minutes25 minutes
Below the poverty line3.7%7.1%9.6%
Work from home9.1%14%11%

Where working residents work

In Thomson Township7%
Duluth40%
Cloquet15%
Superior5%
Hermantown3%
12 mi
median commute distance
621
jobs based in Thomson Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 38% of U.S. towns
Full pageThomson Township’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here621 jobs based here · A commuter townWhere people work7% work in Thomson TownshipCommute times19 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 12 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−

Cold waves leads a high hazard risk in Thomson Township

FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 89% of Minnesota towns, with expected losses of about $985 per resident a year; that rating is what its C− for hazard risk is built on.

Since 1985, 6 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Thomson Township.

70risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
70High riskLowerHigher
Cold wavesInland flooding
6
paid flood claims since 1985
3
federal disasters paid out here
Full pageThomson Township’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesHigh riskFlood claims6 paid flood claims · Since 1985Past disasters3 federal disasters · Paid out in Thomson TownshipGet ready16 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

In Thomson Township, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers

The Cloquet weather station, 8 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 118 days, shorter than in 98% of U.S. towns. January nights average 1°, colder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 77.9°.

Thomson Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Thomson Township’s July high is 78°F. About 71 inches of snow falls in a winter.

71″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter5–23°
Spring28–50°
Summer52–75°
Fall34–52°
Sep 23
typical first frost
May 26
typical last frost
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageThomson Township’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 78°, January lows 1°Rain & snow71″ of snow a winter · 31 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Who lives here

More middle-aged adults than Minnesota overall

Adults 35 to 64 are 45% of residents (38% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (22% statewide). 47% of Thomson Township adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more. Thomson Township has grown 2.9% since 2020, to 5,624 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.

42.5median age · MN 38.8
Thomson TownshipMinnesota townsU.S. towns
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+47%33%29%
Median age42.5 years39.9 years40.5 years
Aged 65 or older16%18%18%
Under 1824%23%22%
Thomson TownshipMinnesotaUnited States

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma0%
High school14%
Some college20%
Associate’s20%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate20%

Women and men · all residents

45% women, 55% men

About 124 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.3 points). Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women. Median age: women 46.5, men 36.7.

Ages and education in Thomson Township
Thomson TownshipMNU.S.
Under 1012.6%12.1%11.6%
10 to 1711.1%10.7%10.3%
18 to 244.5%8.8%9.1%
25 to 3410.7%13%13.7%
35 to 4413.1%13.5%13.2%
45 to 5418.8%11.6%12.2%
55 to 6412.8%12.9%12.7%
65 to 7412.1%10.2%10.2%
75 and older4.2%7%7%
No diploma0.4%6.1%10.4%
High school13.5%23.3%26%
Some college19.8%19.5%19.1%
Associate’s19.8%11.8%8.8%
Bachelor’s26.9%25.6%21.6%
Graduate19.7%13.8%14.1%
Full pageThomson Township by the numbersOpen the page
Ages42.5 median age · 16% are 65 or olderSchooling47% have a four-year degreeHomes95% own their home · HomeownersIncome$119K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

Nearby attractions

Lake Superior Railroad Museum and 9 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Thomson Township. Close and well known come first.

All 15 attractions →
13 mi MuseumLake Superior Railroad Museum13 mi Zoo & aquariumGreat Lakes Aquarium13 mi MuseumDuluth Depot8 mi Zoo & aquariumLake Superior Zoo13 mi MuseumFairlawn Mansion13 mi MuseumLake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Lake Superior Railroad Museum: User resedabear on Flickr, CC BY 2.0 · Great Lakes Aquarium: Tmajewski, Public domain · Duluth Depot: Hikki Nagasaki, Public domain · Fairlawn Mansion: Nfarmakes, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Thomson Township

18pages on Thomson Township
The big questions
SchoolsA+Beat 96% of MN districts · 2 schoolsHealthABetter than MN on 9 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingCWork & commuteA$119K median household income · 621 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 70% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
OutdoorsB+19 mi of trails · 10% conserved landPlacesAttractions15 nearby · Carlton County History and Heritage Center 5 miLibraryB−Cloquet Public LibraryCollegesFond du Lac Tribal and Community College is 4.6 mi away
The story
HistoryBFounded 1870 · 4 on the National RegisterTown Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 703 residentsClimate78° summer highs · 71″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

5 within 15 miles of the center of Thomson Township

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Cloquet4.6 mi$6,006 in-state tuitionLake Superior CollegeCommunity college · Public · Duluth11.3 mi$5,785 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-SuperiorUniversity or college · Public · Superior, WI12.8 mi$8,812 in-state tuition

About 3 of every 100 Thomson Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Landmarks

4 places in Thomson Township on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →
Cooke, Jay, State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic DistrictNational Historic Landmark
Cooke, Jay, State Park CCC/WPA/Rustic Style Picnic Grounds

About Thomson Township

Former city in Minnesota, United States

Thomson was a city in Carlton County, Minnesota, United States, located along the Saint Louis River. The population was 159 at the 2010 census. In 2013, voters approved the consolidation of Thomson into the nearby city of Carlton, and Thomson ceased to exist as its own city in 2015. Thomson is adjacent to Jay Cooke State Park and is located on the Willard Munger State Trail. Minnesota Highway 210 and Dalles Avenue are two of the main routes in the community. Thomson is located seven miles southeast of the city of Cloquet, and 18 miles southwest of the city of Duluth.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
2.2 sq mi
Elevation
1,053 ft
Area code
770

Thomson Township’s neighbors

6 towns share a border with Thomson Township.

Explore the map →
Twin Lakes TownshipCarltonCloquetScanlonSolway TownshipMidway TownshipTwin Lakes TownshipCarltonCloquetScanlonSolway TownshipMidway TownshipThomson Township
Twin Lakes Township
SW
Visit
Carlton
SW · 2% of Thomson Township workers commute here
Visit
Cloquet
W · 15% of Thomson Township workers commute here
Visit
Scanlon
W
Visit
Solway Township
N
Visit
Midway Township
E · 1% of Thomson Township workers commute here
Visit
How the neighbors grade
TownMN rankOverallCostSafetySchoolsHealth
Thomson Township#81AC—A+A
Twin Lakes Township——B−—C+B
Carlton——————
Cloquet#228B−C+BBC+
Scanlon——————
Solway Township——C+—B+B
Midway Township——C+—B+B+

Twin Lakes Township, Solway Township and Midway Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Thomson Township, Twin Lakes Township, Solway Township and Midway Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Carlton and Scanlon aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Thomson Township with a neighbor →

Questions about Thomson Township

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Thomson Township, MN a good place to live?

By most measures, yes. Thomson Township grades A overall, better than 88% of U.S. towns and #81 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades A for health and A+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a C−.

Is Thomson Township, MN expensive?

Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.