The Town FilesFergus Falls, Minnesota
City in Otter Tail County · population 14,119 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,000
- Household income
- $56,162
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 43.3
Fergus Falls is a city of 14,119 people in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $194,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 97% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 91% of Minnesota towns.
How Fergus Falls 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 Fergus Falls is worth $194,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $56,162, which is more affordable than 45% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $911 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fergus Falls | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $911 | $991 |
| Median household income | $56,162 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Fergus Falls
| People | Fergus Falls | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 12.9 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Fergus Falls
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows -0.4°F. About 26.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fergus Falls since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 26, 1977 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on August 8, 2005.
Severe weather in Otter Tail County since 1996
Otter Tail County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2010 | Tornado | DR-1921: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Otter Tail County
Otter Tail County had 22,910 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,013 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Fergus Falls itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Fergus Falls
11 public schools with 2,500 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Middle School | 5-8 | 756 | 21.0 |
| Kennedy High School | 9-12 | 691 | 12.3 |
| CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY | 2-4 | 352 | 14.7 |
| ADAMS ELEMENTARY | 1-2 | 293 | 16.3 |
| MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY | PK-1 | 225 | 12.5 |
| FERGUS FALLS AREA LEARNING CENTER | 5-12 | 89 | 17.8 |
| FERGUS FALLS EARLY CHILDHOOD SP ED | PK-PK | 67 | — |
| Lakes Country Academy | K-12 | 13 | 2.2 |
| FERGUS FALLS EC/ELEMENTARY SP ED | PK-4 | 8 | — |
| FERGUS FALLS ELEMENTARY SP ED 5-8 | 5-8 | 6 | — |
| Shared Time School | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Fergus Falls
- Pelican Rapids, MN19.7 mi · 2,577 people · home $174,100
- Breckenridge, MN24.3 mi · 3,430 people · home $144,500
- Wahpeton, ND25.6 mi · 8,007 people · home $171,300
- Barnesville, MN30.0 mi · 2,759 people · home $248,700
Fergus Falls questions
Is Fergus Falls, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fergus Falls scores better for retirees than 54% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 20%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Fergus Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Fergus Falls is valued at $194,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,162, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $911 a month.
What is the weather like in Fergus Falls?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows -0.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.9 inches of precipitation a year and 51.5 inches of snow.
Does Fergus Falls get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fergus Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 26, 1977. 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)