The Town FilesMoorhead, Minnesota
City in Clay County · population 44,505 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,000
- Household income
- $72,761
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 31.3
Moorhead is a city of 44,505 people in Clay County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $249,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Minnesota towns.
How Moorhead 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 Moorhead is worth $249,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $72,761, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,033 a month. 58.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Moorhead | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,033 | $991 |
| Median household income | $72,761 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Moorhead
| People | Moorhead | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Moorhead
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows -0.3°F. About 26.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moorhead since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 20, 1957 about 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 114 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 21, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 126 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 29, 2026.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms 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 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 19,702 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,697 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Moorhead itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Moorhead
15 public schools with 6,773 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 2,167 | 17.8 |
| MOORHEAD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,017 | 17.8 |
| Dorothy Dodds Elementary School | K-4 | 624 | 12.7 |
| Robert Asp Elementary | K-4 | 622 | 14.5 |
| ELLEN HOPKINS ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 595 | 12.9 |
| Probstfield Elementary | K-4 | 287 | 35.9 |
| PROBSTFIELD CENTER FOR EDUCATION | PK-PK | 260 | 8.4 |
| Moorhead ALC | 5-12 | 141 | 10.1 |
| West Central Academy-S | 4-12 | 47 | 9.4 |
| West Central Academy-N | 3-12 | 13 | — |
| Moorhead Online Elementary Academy | K-6 | — | — |
| Moorhead ALC: DGF Secondary | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Moorhead
- Dilworth, MN2.5 mi · 4,612 people · home $261,800
- Fargo, ND4.0 mi · 125,990 people · home $281,900
- Oakport, MN5.4 mi · 506 people · home $425,000
- Sabin, MN7.2 mi · 619 people · home $265,700
- Reile's Acres, ND7.4 mi · 703 people · home $475,600
- West Fargo, ND7.6 mi · 38,626 people · home $321,900
- Glyndon, MN7.9 mi · 1,306 people · home $264,800
- Harwood, ND10.1 mi · 794 people · home $321,100
Moorhead questions
Is Moorhead, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Moorhead scores better for retirees than 7% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 2%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.3).
How much does a house cost in Moorhead?
The median owner-occupied home in Moorhead is valued at $249,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,761, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,033 a month.
What is the weather like in Moorhead?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows -0.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.1 inches of precipitation a year and 52.7 inches of snow.
Does Moorhead get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moorhead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 20, 1957. 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)