Carlton is a city and the county seat of Carlton County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 948 at the 2020 census. The town sits on the northwestern edge of Jay Cooke State Park. Minnesota State Highways 45 and 210 and County Roads 1 and 3 are four of Carlton's main routes. It is five miles south of Cloquet and 21 miles southwest of Duluth.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code55718

Area code218

Living in Carlton

Housing in Carlton

$337K▲ 3.4% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Carlton home is worth about $337,000, up 3.4% in a year, close to the Minnesota typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Carlton

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Carlton for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Cloquet (30%), Duluth (24%) and Superior (4%). Half commute less than 15 miles.

Cloquet

30%

Duluth

24%

Superior, WI

Moose Lake

4%Work in townlive and work in Carlton 15 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 669Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Carlton →

Health in Carlton

Compared with Minnesota

7better than MN·7worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits all close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.9%Fewer adults facing food insecurityMN 11.4% · better 7.3%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityMN 9.3% · better 12.1%More adults who have had cancerMN 8.5% · worse

Care nearby

Community Memorial HospitalCloquet · 5.5 mi · ER · rural critical access

Lake Superior Community Health Center White Pine ClinicCarlton · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Carlton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Carlton →

Natural hazards in Carlton

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 71% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding

0Does Carlton flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 7 declared for Carlton County MapCarlton vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Carlton →

Climate in Carlton

Full climate →

Carlton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 1°, and about 71 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

23° / 5°Winter

51° / 28°Spring

76° / 52°Summer

53° / 34°Fall

How much snow does Carlton get?About 71 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 23, with the last in spring around May 26.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Carlton →

Schools in Carlton

All Carlton schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Carlton’s kids attend outperform 53% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictCARLTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTSchools3

South Terrace Elementary AElementary · Grades PK–5 · 163 students Carlton Secondary CHigh · Grades 6–12 · 145 students NLA-CarltonOther · Grades 3–12 · 31 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.