City · Minnesota
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead, city, in Clay County, Minnesota. Moorhead had 46,533 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 44,505 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 45,036 (±68). GEOID 2743864.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
46,533
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 44,505 · ACS 2020-2024: 45,036 ±68
Median household income
$72,761
±$5,984 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$249,000
±$7,704 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$1,033
±$50 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Moorhead and what county is it in?
Moorhead is a city in Clay County, Minnesota. It covers 22.3 square miles of land, 1,997 residents per square mile in 2020.
Moorhead is in the Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Moorhead, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 46,533 people lived in Moorhead on July 1, 2025, up 4.6% since 2020, faster than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 44,505 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 45,036 (±68).
| Measure | Moorhead | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 45,036 ±68 | 66,059 | +2,097 |
| Households | 18,508 ±273 | 26,442 | +2,013 |
| Average household size | 2.28 ±0.03 | 2.38 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 19,184 ±229 | 27,559 | +1,281 |
Moorhead's population since 2000
From 32,177 in 2000 to 46,533 in 2025: up 44.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Moorhead as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Moorhead?
The median resident of Moorhead is 31.3 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 12.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.0%. 5.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Moorhead | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.3 ±0.5 | 33.7 | +0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 23.0% ±0.6 pts | 24.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.7% ±0.4 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Male | 49.5% ±0.6 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.3% ±0.7 pts | 5.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.4% ±0.9 pts | 83.5% | −4.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.0% ±0.8 pts | 4.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±0.4 pts | 1.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±0.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.6% ±1.1 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.0% ±1.4 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.1% ±0.8 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 13.5% ±1.3 pts | 12.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.1% ±0.9 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.3% ±0.9 pts | 95.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.6% ±2.4 pts | 39.3% | +3.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.6% ±1.9 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 79.9% ±2.0 pts | 84.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.7% ±1.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Moorhead earn?
Half of Moorhead's 18,508 households earn less than $72,761 a year (±$5,984), against $81,172 in Clay County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $74,229 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Moorhead | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,761 ±$5,984 | $81,172 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $91,695 ±$3,739 | $99,798 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,546 ±$1,595 | $39,936 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.1% ±2.2 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.4% ±5.7 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.3% ±1.7 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.7% ±1.0 pts | 95.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.1% ±1.8 pts | 89.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Moorhead?
Owners occupy 58.1% of Moorhead's occupied homes and renters 41.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $249,000 by its owner (±$7,704). The median renter pays $1,033 a month including utilities, and 45.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Moorhead | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $249,000 ±$7,704 | $265,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,033 ±$50 | $1,019 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.3% ±4.4 pts | 44.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,807 ±$49 | $1,827 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58.1% ±2.5 pts | 65.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 41.9% ±2.5 pts | 34.1% | – |
| Housing units | 19,184 ±229 | 27,559 | +1,281 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.1% ±2.4 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 51.1% ±2.2 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.4% ±1.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 15.0% ±2.0 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.5% ±1.2 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.0% ±1.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Moorhead building?
Builders took permits for 139 new housing units in Moorhead in 2025 (103 in single-family houses), 3.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Moorhead work and get to work?
73.7% of Moorhead's workers drive alone and 12.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.0%.
| Measure | Moorhead | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.9% ±1.3 pts | 70.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% ±1.3 pts | 4.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 73.7% ±2.2 pts | 74.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.1% ±1.4 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.4% ±1.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 3.0% ±0.7 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.6% ±1.6 pts | 11.8% | +5.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.8 min ±1.1 | 19.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Moorhead?
10 census tracts lie mostly in Moorhead, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $33,175 (Tract 204) to $118,281 (Tract 301.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 301.08Clay County | 5,609 | $58,132 |
| Tract 205Clay County | 5,085 | $87,500 |
| Tract 206Clay County | 4,319 | $67,754 |
| Tract 204Clay County | 4,242 | $33,175 |
| Tract 303Clay County | 3,943 | $61,667 |
| Tract 301.09Clay County | 3,837 | $81,000 |
| Tract 203Clay County | 3,314 | $53,000 |
| Tract 207Clay County | 2,539 | $61,163 |
| Tract 304Clay County | 2,528 | $101,445 |
| Tract 301.06Clay County | 1,999 | $118,281 |
| Tract 301.11Clay County | 5,309 | $100,074 |
| Tract 301.10Clay County | 5,820 | $114,076 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Moorhead) · Census block assignment files
How does Moorhead compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Moorhead is the 882nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 22nd-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Moorhead ranks 394th of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 22nd | 855 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 116th | 556 |
| Residents per square mile | 66th | 562 |
| Median household income | 394th | 558 |
| Per capita income | 402nd | 562 |
| Median home value | 377th | 559 |
| Median gross rent | 260th | 465 |
| Poverty rate | 55th | 461 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 115th | 559 |
| Median age | 543rd | 561 |
| Owner-occupied share | 525th | 561 |
| Work from home | 253rd | 525 |
| Travel time to work | 476th | 562 |
Moorhead's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Moorhead with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Moorhead?
3 of the 57 figures for Moorhead on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Moorhead are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Moorhead.