City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Thief River Falls, MN

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

8,841
Residents
$65,244
Median income
$169,300
Median home
$1,122
Median rent (state)

Thief River Falls - the verdict

Nationally, Thief River Falls sits in the 43rd percentile for household income and the 46th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

43rd
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
30th
percentile, median rent
46th
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: Thief River Falls, MN

Thief River Falls is a small town in Minnesota, home to 8,841 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Thief River Falls households earn a median of $65,244 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.5%. Typical homes in Thief River Falls are valued around $169,300, and the median resident age is 38.9 years. About 19.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 9 residential building permits were authorized in Thief River Falls (Construction Slowdown), down 73% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Thief River Falls reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1485.9 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than 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 $1,122 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 47.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

8,841 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$65,244 /yr

Poverty 7.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Thief River Falls compare to other US cities?

Thief River Falls measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 30% pricier than other cities
Safety 46% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Minnesota alone, Thief River Falls ranks #157 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Thief River Falls 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 sits close to the middle of Minnesota's city distribution

Among the 785 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Thief River Falls ranks #284 - the 63rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Thief River Falls only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#435 of 775
44th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#314 of 785
60th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#397 of 774
49th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#284 of 785
63rd percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#431 of 784
44th 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.

43rdIncome percentile
46thSafety percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income · 46th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Thief River Falls's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Thief River Falls'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 53 Avg. percentile National median
Thief River Falls'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 Thief River Falls's home value compares nationally

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

$169,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Thief River Falls $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 - Thief River Falls, MN Thief River Falls, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Thief River Falls, 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 Thief River Falls, MN median $65,244/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%
Thief River Falls, 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 Thief River Falls, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.5%

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

Population
8,841
Median Income
$65,244
Median Home Value
$169,300
Median Age
38.9
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Labor force participation
65.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1485.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
90.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1395.2
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
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,750 residents8,800 residents8,850 residents8,900 residents8,950 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,836 residents 8,799 residents ▼ -0.4%
Thief River Falls's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
9
housing units authorized
Single-Family
9
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 33
2020 91
2021 143
2022 5
2023 4
2024 9

Permit volume decreased 73% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.2%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
3.5%
Work from Home
8.3%
Other
5.2%

Based on 4,554 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 Thief River Falls sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,122/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
47.0 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Baxter
8,804 people
Oak Grove
9,031 people
East Grand Forks
9,067 people
Little Falls
9,094 people
Minnetrista
8,509 people
Mound
9,176 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Thief River Falls's 8,841 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Andalusia, AL
8,841 people
Pearsall, TX
8,841 people
Panthersville, GA
8,840 people
Bloomingdale, TN
8,840 people
Marina del Rey, CA
8,844 people
Pitman, NJ
8,834 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Thief River Falls's $65,244 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

New Meadows, ID
$65,250 median income
Carterville, IL
$65,238 median income
Fairview, IL
$65,250 median income
Rippey, IA
$65,250 median income
Dover, KY
$65,250 median income
Beemer, NE
$65,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Thief River Falls, 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 Thief River Falls, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.5% White 90.6% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.9% Two or more races 4.7% 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 Thief River Falls 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
Thief River Falls (this city) 8,841 $65,244
Baxter 8,804 $71,272
Oak Grove 9,031 $114,679
East Grand Forks 9,067 $74,618
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Thief River Falls, MN?

What is the population of Thief River Falls, MN? +

The population of Thief River Falls, MN stands at 8,841 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Thief River Falls, MN? +

Thief River Falls households earn a median of $65,244 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Thief River Falls? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Thief River Falls; 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 Thief River Falls, MN safe? +

Thief River Falls has a total crime rate of 1485.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Thief River Falls, MN? +

Homes in Thief River Falls carry a median value of $169,300, 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

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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.