What are the schools like in Moorhead, MN?

Moorhead is served primarily by Moorhead Area Public Schools. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

What is the median household income in Moorhead?

The median household income in Moorhead, MN is $68,680 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in Moorhead, MN?

Moorhead has an average high temperature of 17.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 52.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Moorhead, MN affordable or expensive?

Moorhead's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Moorhead is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $234,300 and the median rent is $997 per month.

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

Moorhead has a violent crime rate of 365.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1675.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Moorhead, MN a Good Place to Live?

Moorhead is a small city of 44,443 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $68,680 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Moorhead stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Moorhead is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Moorhead 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: 89.4

Moorhead's overall cost of living index is 89.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Moorhead costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Moorhead, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$234,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$997	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,680	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Moorhead's violent crime rate is 365.4 per 100,000 residents — 4% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

365.4 /100k

Property Crime

1675.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Moorhead is served primarily by Moorhead Area Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Moorhead, MN	National Avg
School District	Moorhead Area Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	39.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Moorhead sees average highs of 17.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July, with 26.1 inches of annual precipitation and 52.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Moorhead, MN
Average High — January	17.2°F
Average High — July	81.8°F
Annual Precipitation	26.1"
Annual Snowfall	52.7"

Demographics

Metric	Moorhead, MN	National Avg
Population	44,443	—
Median Age	31.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.8%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	12.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dilworth, MN 2 mi Fargo, ND 4 mi Prairie Rose, ND 5 mi Briarwood, ND 6 mi Frontier, ND 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Moorhead

Moorhead, MN is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

56560 56563 56562

Moorhead vs Other Cities

Moorhead, MN vs Dilworth, MN Moorhead, MN vs Fargo, ND Moorhead, MN vs Prairie Rose, ND Moorhead, MN vs Briarwood, ND Moorhead, MN vs Frontier, ND

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moorhead, MN affordable or expensive?

Moorhead's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Moorhead roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $234,300 and median rent is $997/month.

What is the crime rate in Moorhead, MN?

Moorhead's violent crime rate is 365.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1675.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Moorhead?

Public schools in Moorhead are operated by Moorhead Area Public Schools. The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 39.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Moorhead, MN a good place to live?

Moorhead, MN has a population of 44,443, a median household income of $68,680, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. 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 Moorhead?

Moorhead averages 17.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.1 inches with about 52.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Moorhead?

Moorhead, MN is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 56560, 56563, 56562.

What is the population of Moorhead?

The population of Moorhead, Minnesota is 44,443 with a median age of 31.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Moorhead?

Key numbers for living in Moorhead: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $234,300, median household income $68,680, crime index 90 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Moorhead side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.