City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Bemidji, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bemidji - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

15,490
Residents
$53,850
Median income
$189,500
Median home
$1,008
Median rent (state)

Bemidji - the verdict

Nationally, Bemidji sits in the 26th percentile for household income and the 3rd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

26th
percentile, household income
40th
percentile, home value
20th
percentile, median rent
3rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bemidji, MN

Minnesota's Bemidji is a small town, with 15,490 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Bemidji brings in $53,850 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.1%. Typical homes in Bemidji are valued around $189,500, and the median resident age is 29.8 years. Educational attainment runs 33.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 10 residential building permits were authorized in Bemidji (Construction Slowdown), down 52% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Bemidji's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 5399.6 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Minnesota scores 98.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,008 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Bemidji workers runs 15.3 minutes, with 77.9% driving alone and 7.3% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 35.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

15,490 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$53,850 /yr

Poverty 12.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Bemidji compare to other US cities?

Where Bemidji sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 26% higher than other cities
Home value 40% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% pricier than other cities
Safety 3% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Minnesota, Bemidji ranks #226 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bemidji against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Bemidji toward the top of Minnesota's cities

Among the 785 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Bemidji ranks #139 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bemidji only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#613 of 775
21st percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#460 of 785
41st percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#339 of 774
56th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#139 of 785
82nd percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#167 of 784
79th percentile in Minnesota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Minnesota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

26thIncome percentile
3rdSafety percentile

26th percentile nationally for median household income · 3rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Bemidji's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Bemidji's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 33 Avg. percentile National median
Bemidji's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Bemidji's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$189,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 60% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bemidji $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bemidji, MN Bemidji, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bemidji, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bemidji, MN median $53,850/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bemidji, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bemidji, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 33.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
15,490
Median Income
$53,850
Median Home Value
$189,500
Median Age
29.8
Poverty Rate
12.1%
Labor force participation
60.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
33.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
5399.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
813.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
4585.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
20
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,200 residents15,400 residents15,600 residents15,800 residents16,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,398 residents 15,770 residents ▲ +2.4%
Bemidji's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 21
2020 69
2021 163
2022 18
2023 64
2024 10

Permit volume decreased 52% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.3 minutes
Drive Alone
77.9%
Carpool
7.6%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
4.0%
Work from Home
7.3%
Other
2.1%

Based on 7,559 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bemidji sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,008/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
35.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Hugo
16,076 people
Hibbing
16,100 people
Hutchinson
14,629 people
Monticello
14,607 people
Buffalo
16,388 people
Alexandria
14,579 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bemidji's 15,490 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Traverse City, MI
15,491 people
Buda, TX
15,487 people
Batavia, NY
15,494 people
Greenwood, CO
15,485 people
Yankton, SD
15,501 people
Andover, KS
15,508 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bemidji's $53,850 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Gila Crossing, AZ
$53,846 median income
Rockmart, GA
$53,854 median income
Crivitz, WI
$53,846 median income
Talent, OR
$53,843 median income
Green Lake, WI
$53,841 median income
Westview, FL
$53,840 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bemidji, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bemidji, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.9% 10.1% 10.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.1% White 74.9% Black or African American 3.2% Asian 0.8% American Indian 10.1% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 10.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bemidji compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bemidji (this city) 15,490 $53,850
Hugo 16,076 $114,057
Hibbing 16,100 $55,463
Hutchinson 14,629 $71,730
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bemidji, MN?

What is the population of Bemidji, MN? +

15,490 people live in Bemidji, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bemidji, MN? +

Bemidji households earn a median of $53,850 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bemidji? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bemidji; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

Is Bemidji, MN safe? +

Bemidji has a total crime rate of 5399.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Bemidji, MN? +

Bemidji's median home value sits at $189,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.