What are the schools like in Perham, MN?

Perham is served primarily by PERHAM-DENT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Perham?

The median household income in Perham, MN is $46,509 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 19.2%.

What is the weather like in Perham, MN?

Perham has an average high temperature of 17.0°F in January and 79.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 45.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Perham, MN affordable or expensive?

Perham's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Perham is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $172,900 and the median rent is $787 per month.

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

Perham has a violent crime rate of 81.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 754.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Perham, MN a Good Place to Live?

Perham is a small town of 3,524 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $46,509 and a 19.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Perham 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 Perham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Perham 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: 94.3

Perham's overall cost of living index is 94.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Perham costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Perham, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$172,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$787	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,509	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Perham's violent crime rate is 81.7 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

81.7 /100k

Property Crime

754.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Perham is served primarily by PERHAM-DENT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Perham, MN	National Avg
School District	PERHAM-DENT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Perham sees average highs of 17.0°F in January and 79.0°F in July, with 26.9 inches of annual precipitation and 45.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Perham, MN
Average High — January	17.0°F
Average High — July	79.0°F
Annual Precipitation	26.9"
Annual Snowfall	45.6"

Demographics

Metric	Perham, MN	National Avg
Population	3,524	—
Median Age	41.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	19.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	22.8%	22.2%
65 and over	25.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Richville, MN 7 mi Dent, MN 7 mi Frazee, MN 11 mi New York Mills, MN 11 mi Vergas, MN 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Perham

Perham, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56573

Perham vs Other Cities

Perham, MN vs Richville, MN Perham, MN vs Dent, MN Perham, MN vs Frazee, MN Perham, MN vs New York Mills, MN Perham, MN vs Vergas, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Perham, MN affordable or expensive?

Perham's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Perham roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $172,900 and median rent is $787/month.

What is the crime rate in Perham, MN?

Perham's violent crime rate is 81.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 754.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Perham?

Public schools in Perham are operated by PERHAM-DENT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 26.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Perham, MN a good place to live?

Perham, MN has a population of 3,524, a median household income of $46,509, and an unemployment rate of 19.2%. 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 Perham?

Perham averages 17.0°F in January and 79.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.9 inches with about 45.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Perham?

Perham, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56573.

What is the population of Perham?

The population of Perham, Minnesota is 3,524 with a median age of 41.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Perham?

Key numbers for living in Perham: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $172,900, median household income $46,509, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Perham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.