Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★3.5 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in Ely, MN
Explore Ely and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match7.1 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
Ely at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population3,240
Median Household Income$43,901
Median Home Value$157,300
Median Gross Rent$627
Median Age52.1
Average Household Size1.7
Unemployment2.5%
Work From Home6.3%
Homeownership63.4%
Housing Vacancy9.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
Ely is a smaller community, so land use, housing supply and its relationship with surrounding communities can be especially important to movers. Unemployment is relatively low, which is a positive current labor-market signal.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in Ely Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in Ely →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Ely and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in Ely
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$157,300
Median Gross Rent$627
Homeownership63.4%
Housing Vacancy9.9%
Home values are moderately high relative to local household income, making neighborhood-level price differences important for buyers. The housing mix leans toward owner-occupied homes while still supporting a meaningful rental market.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for Ely, MN
Median Household Income$43,901
Unemployment2.5%
Work From Home6.3%
The reported unemployment rate is relatively low.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in Ely and how households are structured
Population3,240
Median Age52.1
Average Household Size1.7
Ely is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in Ely
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for Ely point to warm summers, cold winters, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and substantial annual snowfall.
Average Summer High76.8°F
Average Winter Low-3.7°F
Annual Rainfall31.3 in.
Annual Snowfall64.6 in.
Seasonal Life in Ely
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a useful time to evaluate how quickly outdoor conditions become comfortable and how seasonal rain affects everyday routines.
Summer
Summer highs are comparatively mild, which may reduce cooling demands and can make daytime outdoor activity more comfortable than in hotter inland locations.
Fall
Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.
Winter
Freezing winter lows and meaningful snowfall make snow removal, winter driving, heating costs and cold-weather routines important parts of evaluating the area.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
Ely is located in St. Louis County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. St. Louis County.
County Intelligence
Ely & St. Louis County
Data Pending
Foreclosure Activity
Ely is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Ely.
Current NarrowTheList data for Ely shows a population of about 3,240. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
St. Louis County
How NarrowTheList uses it
County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Ely.
For someone considering a move to Ely, the available data currently points to a relatively tight labor market. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.