The Town FilesFosston, Minnesota
City in Polk County · population 1,434 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,700
- Household income
- $52,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- -5° / 78°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.6
Fosston is a city of 1,434 people in Polk County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $151,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Minnesota towns, better for a vacation home than 90% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Fosston 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 Fosston is worth $151,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $52,500, which is more affordable than 74% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $790 a month. 55.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fosston | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $790 | $991 |
| Median household income | $52,500 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 55.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Fosston
| People | Fosston | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Fosston
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows -5.2°F. About 26.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fosston since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 29, 2018 about 1.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 26, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 1999.
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 Fosston itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Public schools in Fosston
2 public schools with 618 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAGELSSEN ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 344 | 12.3 |
| FOSSTON SECONDARY | 7-12 | 274 | 14.4 |
Towns near Fosston
- McIntosh, MN7.2 mi · 606 people · home $103,600
- Knute, MN12.0 mi · 563 people · home $291,700
- Popple, MN12.7 mi · 535 people · home $239,500
- Bagley, MN16.8 mi · 1,285 people · home $138,600
- Woodside, MN18.0 mi · 512 people · home $530,400
- Copley, MN18.9 mi · 867 people · home $188,000
- Mahnomen, MN21.2 mi · 1,240 people · home $83,200
- Naytahwaush, MN22.2 mi · 504 people · home $88,800
Fosston questions
Is Fosston, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fosston scores better for retirees than 76% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 77%. 29.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Fosston?
The median owner-occupied home in Fosston is valued at $151,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,500, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $790 a month.
What is the weather like in Fosston?
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows -5.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Fosston get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fosston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 29, 2018. 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)