What are the schools like in Fosston, MN?

Fosston is served primarily by FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1.

What is the median household income in Fosston?

The median household income in Fosston, MN is $45,893 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.4%.

What is the weather like in Fosston, MN?

Fosston has an average high temperature of 15.9°F in January and 78.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Fosston, MN affordable or expensive?

Fosston's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fosston is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $124,400 and the median rent is $889 per month.

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

Fosston has a violent crime rate of 365.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2558.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fosston, MN a Good Place to Live?

Fosston is a small town of 1,299 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $45,893 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fosston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fosston 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

Fosston's overall cost of living index is 86.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fosston costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fosston, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$124,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$889	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,893	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Fosston's violent crime rate is 365.5 per 100,000 residents — 4% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

365.5 /100k

Property Crime

2558.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Fosston is served primarily by FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fosston, MN	National Avg
School District	FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fosston sees average highs of 15.9°F in January and 78.2°F in July, with 26.5 inches of annual precipitation and 49.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fosston, MN
Average High — January	15.9°F
Average High — July	78.2°F
Annual Precipitation	26.5"
Annual Snowfall	49.9"

Demographics

Metric	Fosston, MN	National Avg
Population	1,299	—
Median Age	48.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	20.6%	22.2%
65 and over	33.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

McIntosh, MN 7 mi Lengby, MN 7 mi Winger, MN 11 mi Ebro, MN 12 mi Erskine, MN 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Fosston

Fosston, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56542

Fosston vs Other Cities

Fosston, MN vs McIntosh, MN Fosston, MN vs Lengby, MN Fosston, MN vs Winger, MN Fosston, MN vs Ebro, MN Fosston, MN vs Erskine, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fosston, MN affordable or expensive?

Fosston's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fosston roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $124,400 and median rent is $889/month.

What is the crime rate in Fosston, MN?

Fosston's violent crime rate is 365.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2558.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fosston?

Public schools in Fosston are operated by FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 23.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fosston, MN a good place to live?

Fosston, MN has a population of 1,299, a median household income of $45,893, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Fosston?

Fosston averages 15.9°F in January and 78.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.5 inches with about 49.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fosston?

Fosston, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56542.

What is the population of Fosston?

The population of Fosston, Minnesota is 1,299 with a median age of 48.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fosston?

Key numbers for living in Fosston: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $124,400, median household income $45,893, crime index 106 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fosston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.