The Town FilesGrand Rapids, Minnesota
City in Itasca County · population 11,126 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,800
- Household income
- $61,029
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 60 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 44.3
Grand Rapids is a city of 11,126 people in Itasca County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $213,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 85% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 84% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids is worth $213,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $61,029, which is more affordable than 45% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,090 a month. 62.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Rapids | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,090 | $991 |
| Median household income | $61,029 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Grand Rapids
| People | Grand Rapids | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 15.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Grand Rapids
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows -1.5°F. About 29.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Rapids since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 17, 1985 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 20, 2025.
Severe weather in Itasca County since 1996
Itasca County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Itasca County
Itasca County had 16,608 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,071 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Grand Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Grand Rapids
9 public schools with 3,431 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRAND RAPIDS SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,114 | 20.6 |
| ROBERT J. ELKINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 778 | 17.7 |
| East Rapids Elementary | K-5 | 649 | 16.6 |
| West Rapids Elementary | K-5 | 639 | 16.4 |
| GRAND RAPIDS AREA LEARNING CENTER | 8-12 | 127 | 31.8 |
| GRAND RAPIDS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | PK-PK | 62 | 10.3 |
| ITASKIN EDUCATION CENTER | 4-12 | 36 | 7.2 |
| MIDDLE AREA LEARNING CENTER | 5-8 | 26 | — |
| Infinity: Minnesota Digital Academy | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Grand Rapids
- Harris, MN5.5 mi · 3,276 people · home $301,800
- Cohasset, MN6.2 mi · 2,689 people · home $330,500
- Hibbing, MN29.5 mi · 16,214 people · home $130,200
Grand Rapids questions
Is Grand Rapids, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grand Rapids scores better for retirees than 83% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 21%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Grand Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Rapids is valued at $213,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,029, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,090 a month.
What is the weather like in Grand Rapids?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows -1.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.4 inches of precipitation a year and 59.6 inches of snow.
Does Grand Rapids get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 17, 1985. 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)