The Town FilesEast Grand Forks, Minnesota
City in Polk County · population 9,176 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $255,600
- Household income
- $77,549
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 35.5
East Grand Forks is a city of 9,176 people in Polk County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $255,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 97% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 85% of Minnesota towns.
How East Grand Forks ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in East Grand Forks is worth $255,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $77,549, which is more affordable than 55% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $888 a month. 67.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | East Grand Forks | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $255,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $888 | $991 |
| Median household income | $77,549 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in East Grand Forks
| People | East Grand Forks | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in East Grand Forks
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -1.3°F. About 22.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Grand Forks since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 11, 1958 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 16, 1987.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Flood | DR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 12,036 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,723 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in East Grand Forks itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in East Grand Forks
4 public schools with 1,942 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAST GRAND FORKS SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 588 | 16.8 |
| NEW HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 490 | 15.8 |
| CENTRAL MIDDLE | 6-8 | 438 | 16.8 |
| SOUTH POINT ELEMENTARY | 3-5 | 426 | 14.2 |
Towns near East Grand Forks
- Grand Forks, ND3.5 mi · 59,166 people · home $249,900
- Thompson, ND11.4 mi · 1,101 people · home $281,900
- Grand Forks AFB, ND17.6 mi · 2,002 people · home $9,999
- Warren, MN21.6 mi · 1,605 people · home $148,400
- Crookston, MN21.7 mi · 7,482 people · home $185,600
- Larimore, ND28.4 mi · 1,260 people · home $203,900
- Hatton, ND28.8 mi · 712 people · home $140,800
- Northwood, ND29.0 mi · 982 people · home $208,200
East Grand Forks questions
Is East Grand Forks, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, East Grand Forks scores better for retirees than 13% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 3%. 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in East Grand Forks?
The median owner-occupied home in East Grand Forks is valued at $255,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,549, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $888 a month.
What is the weather like in East Grand Forks?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -1.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.8 inches of precipitation a year and 48.7 inches of snow.
Does East Grand Forks get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Grand Forks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 11, 1958. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)