City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Foreston, MN

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

735
Residents
$94,219
Median income
$247,900
Median home
$1,123
Median rent (state)

Foreston - the verdict

Foreston ranks in the 74th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

74th
percentile, household income
55th
percentile, home value
31st
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Foreston, MN

735 people live in Foreston, Minnesota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Foreston brings in $94,219 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.1%. Foreston's housing stock carries a median value of $247,900, and the median resident age is 34.1 years. Educational attainment runs 27.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 76.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,123 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Minnesota's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 28.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

735 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$94,219 /yr

Poverty 3.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Foreston compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 74% higher than other cities
Home value 55% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Minnesota-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Minnesota's city distribution

Among the 774 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Foreston ranks #218 - the 72nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Foreston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#155 of 775
80th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#308 of 785
60th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#218 of 774
72nd percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#529 of 785
32nd percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#249 of 784
68th 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.

74thIncome percentile

74th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Foreston's home value compares nationally

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

$247,900 45th percentile more affordable than 45% 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%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Foreston $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 - Foreston, MN Foreston, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Foreston, 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 Foreston, MN median $94,219/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%
Foreston, 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 Foreston, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 76.2%

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

Population
735
Median Income
$94,219
Median Home Value
$247,900
Median Age
34.1
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Labor force participation
76.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.2%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
550 residents560 residents570 residents580 residents590 residents 202020212022202320242025 557 residents 581 residents ▲ +4.3%
Foreston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 3
2022 3
2023 2
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.3%
Carpool
9.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
19.8%

Based on 400 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 Foreston sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,123/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
28.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Onamia
731 people
Ponemah
740 people
Jasper
742 people
Twin Valley
725 people
Isle
747 people
Greenwood
720 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Foreston's 735 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Georgetown, ID
735 people
Little Falls, ME
735 people
Benzonia, MI
735 people
Hardwood Acres, MI
735 people
Scribner, NE
735 people
Hamer, SC
735 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Foreston's $94,219 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Winthrop Harbor, IL
$94,221 median income
Cordova, MD
$94,226 median income
Carlton, OR
$94,227 median income
Maricopa, AZ
$94,208 median income
Hyattsville, MD
$94,231 median income
Lawrence, IL
$94,205 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Foreston, 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 Foreston, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.0% White 96.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.3% 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 Foreston 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
Foreston (this city) 735 $94,219
Onamia 731 $26,827
Ponemah 740 N/A
Jasper 742 $47,188
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Foreston, MN?

What is the population of Foreston, MN? +

735 people live in Foreston, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Foreston households earn a median of $94,219 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Foreston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Foreston; 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.

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

The median home value in Foreston is $247,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.