What are the schools like in Bemidji, MN?

Bemidji is served primarily by Bemidji Public School District. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Bemidji?

The median household income in Bemidji, MN is $49,799 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Bemidji, MN?

Bemidji has an average high temperature of 17.8°F in January and 79.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.9 inches.

Bemidji, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bemidji, MN affordable or expensive?

Bemidji's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bemidji is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $176,500 and the median rent is $955 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bemidji, MN?

Bemidji has a violent crime rate of 813.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4585.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bemidji, MN a Good Place to Live?

Bemidji is a small city of 15,441 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $49,799 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Bemidji stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Bemidji is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bemidji city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.9

Bemidji's overall cost of living index is 95.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bemidji costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bemidji, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$176,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$955	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	40.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,799	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Bemidji's violent crime rate is 813.7 per 100,000 residents — 114% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

813.7 /100k

Property Crime

4585.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bemidji is served primarily by Bemidji Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bemidji, MN	National Avg
School District	Bemidji Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bemidji sees average highs of 17.8°F in January and 79.1°F in July, with 27.5 inches of annual precipitation and 48.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bemidji, MN
Average High — January	17.8°F
Average High — July	79.1°F
Annual Precipitation	27.5"
Annual Snowfall	48.9"

Demographics

Metric	Bemidji, MN	National Avg
Population	15,441	—
Median Age	29.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	76.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.1%	22.2%
65 and over	15.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wilton, MN 6 mi Turtle River, MN 9 mi Solway, MN 12 mi Tenstrike, MN 15 mi Cass Lake, MN 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Bemidji

Bemidji, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56601

Bemidji vs Other Cities

Bemidji, MN vs Wilton, MN Bemidji, MN vs Turtle River, MN Bemidji, MN vs Solway, MN Bemidji, MN vs Tenstrike, MN Bemidji, MN vs Cass Lake, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bemidji, MN affordable or expensive?

Bemidji's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bemidji roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $176,500 and median rent is $955/month.

What is the crime rate in Bemidji, MN?

Bemidji's violent crime rate is 813.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4585.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bemidji?

Public schools in Bemidji are operated by Bemidji Public School District. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 32.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bemidji, MN a good place to live?

Bemidji, MN has a population of 15,441, a median household income of $49,799, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bemidji?

Bemidji averages 17.8°F in January and 79.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.5 inches with about 48.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bemidji?

Bemidji, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56601.

What is the population of Bemidji?

The population of Bemidji, Minnesota is 15,441 with a median age of 29.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bemidji?

Key numbers for living in Bemidji: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $176,500, median household income $49,799, crime index 216 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bemidji side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.