Places › Minnesota › Moorhead

Living in Moorhead, MN

College town in Minnesota

Moorhead is a college town in Minnesota, home to about 45,000 people, with 241,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Moorhead a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $274k and rents for $1,550 a month
  • Mild summers: highs around 80°F
  • Strong healthcare: 1 top-rated (4–5★) hospital within 31 mi
  • Dog-friendly: 9 dog parks within 9 mi

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $2,443 state income tax per resident, 1.19% property tax
  • Smaller job market: about 241,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Moorhead ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
45,000
241,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
21°F / 80°F
Average daily highs · 53″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$274k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,550/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
91
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$2,443
State income tax per resident · 1.19% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
10 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, cold waves
Top-rated hospitals
1
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
42%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MSP
218 mi away

Living in Moorhead: common questions

What is the cost of living in Moorhead?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $274k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,550 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 91, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Moorhead?

Minnesota collects about $2,443 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.19% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Moorhead safe?

Moorhead isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

What is the weather like in Moorhead?

Moorhead has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 21°F and summer days around 80°F, with roughly 53″ of snow a year.

Does Moorhead get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and cold waves: 10 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.74 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Moorhead?

The nearest major airport is MSP, about 218 mi away.

How Moorhead scores

Each bar compares Moorhead with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Long, snowy winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Poor
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Average
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Good
⛰️Outdoors Below average
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety No crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Below average

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Is Moorhead right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.