The Town FilesBemidji, Minnesota
City in Beltrami County · population 14,574 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,300
- Household income
- $55,405
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 30.0
Bemidji is a city of 14,574 people in Beltrami County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $198,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 98% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 95% of Minnesota towns.
How Bemidji ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bemidji is worth $198,300, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $55,405, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,067 a month. 43.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bemidji | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,067 | $991 |
| Median household income | $55,405 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 43.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Bemidji
| People | Bemidji | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Bemidji
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows -3.6°F. About 26.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bemidji since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 4, 2018 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 4, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 4.75 inches on July 2, 2003.
Severe weather in Beltrami County since 1996
Beltrami County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Flood | DR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Beltrami County
Beltrami County had 20,746 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,299 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Bemidji itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Bemidji
22 public schools with 5,393 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEMIDJI SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,516 | 19.9 |
| BEMIDJI MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,035 | 16.7 |
| Gene Dillon Elementary School | 4-5 | 679 | 15.1 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY | PK-3 | 320 | 13.3 |
| HORACE MAY ELEMENTARY | PK-3 | 307 | 12.3 |
| NORTHERN ELEMENTARY | PK-3 | 285 | 13.6 |
| J.W. SMITH ELEMENTARY | PK-3 | 258 | 11.7 |
| Schoolcraft Learning Community (charter) | K-8 | 196 | 11.5 |
| TREKNORTH HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 145 | 18.1 |
| Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn (charter) | K-8 | 141 | 11.8 |
| Trek North Middle School (charter) | 6-8 | 108 | 21.6 |
| PAUL BUNYAN CENTER | PK-PK | 90 | 5.3 |
Towns near Bemidji
- Northern, MN4.4 mi · 4,535 people · home $320,200
Bemidji questions
Is Bemidji, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bemidji scores better for retirees than 6% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 2%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.0).
How much does a house cost in Bemidji?
The median owner-occupied home in Bemidji is valued at $198,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,405, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,067 a month.
What is the weather like in Bemidji?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows -3.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.5 inches of precipitation a year and 49.7 inches of snow.
Does Bemidji get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bemidji since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 4, 2018. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)