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Moorhead, MN

Photo: Wikipedia

Moorhead, MN

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 33
Population44,706
Foreign Born2.5%
Population Density2,006people per mi²
Median Age31.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

87/100

13% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Moorhead, Minnesota

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $16k$31k
Comfortable $48k$70k
Luxury $118k+$183k+
Elite (Top 5%) $139k+$216k+
Affordability Ratio

99%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean84%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
5
Negative
19

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

1.6mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.2mi

Airport

Hector International Airport

4mi

Post Office

USPS — Fargo, ND

3.2mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf6Nearest 1.6 mi
Camping20Nearest 13.8 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink1Nearest 1.2 mi
Gun Range5Nearest 1.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D+
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$69k+1.0%
8% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$534k
19% below US avg
College Educated
42.3%
21% above US avg
WFH
11.8%
17% below US avg
Homeownership
58.7%
10% below US avg
Median Home
$246k
13% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C+
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
18.5
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−44.4%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−40.0%
Homicide
0.04 / 1k Residents95% above state avg
Robbery
0.28 / 1k Residents20% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.13 / 1k Residents43% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−48.8%
Burglary
2.61 / 1k Residents63% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
10.80 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.85 / 1k Residents12% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+18Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Moorhead, Minnesota
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
D-
Poor12.1% of income
Property Rights
C+
FairIJ Grade C+
Firearm Rights
C+
FairFPC Grade C+
Homeschooling
D-
PoorHigh regulation

Energy independence: Importer (20% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
D+
RestrictedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season157 days193 frost-free
Annual Rainfall25.8"
Elevation902 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B-
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great1207 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,006/sq mi
Fallout Danger
D-
Poor4 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 148 mi · coast 1155 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$42.0M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityMinneapolis430k people are 213 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital221 miSaint Paul, MN
Nearest Prison0.7 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T10:03:14.000Z

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