East Grand Forks is a small town of 9,118 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $81,783
and a 3.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
East Grand Forks stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether East Grand Forks is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All East Grand Forks 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: 86.2
East Grand Forks's overall cost of living index is 86.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in East Grand Forks costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
East Grand Forks, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$239,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$826
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$81,783
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
East Grand Forks's violent crime rate is 112.9 per 100,000 residents
— 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
112.9 /100k
Property Crime
282.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
East Grand Forks is served primarily by East Grand Forks Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
East Grand Forks, MN
National Avg
School District
East Grand Forks Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
East Grand Forks sees average highs of 15.3°F in January
and 80.1°F in July,
with 22.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 48.7 inches of snow per year.
East Grand Forks's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes East Grand Forks roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $239,200 and median rent is $826/month.
East Grand Forks's violent crime rate is 112.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 282.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in East Grand Forks are operated by East Grand Forks Public Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1. 28.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
East Grand Forks, MN has a population of 9,118, a median household income of $81,783, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
East Grand Forks averages 15.3°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.8 inches
with about 48.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
East Grand Forks, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56721.
The population of East Grand Forks, Minnesota is 9,118 with a median age of 33.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in East Grand Forks: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $239,200, median household income $81,783, crime index 23 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare East Grand Forks side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
