The Town FilesNorthern, Minnesota
Township in Beltrami County · population 4,535 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $320,200
- Household income
- $99,848
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 43.1
Northern is a township of 4,535 people in Beltrami County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $320,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 92% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 87% of Minnesota towns.
How Northern 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 Northern is worth $320,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $99,848, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,369 a month. 85.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northern | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $320,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,369 | $991 |
| Median household income | $99,848 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 85.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.4% | — |
Who lives in Northern
| People | Northern | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Northern
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows -3.6°F. About 26.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northern since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 4, 2018 about 4.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 79 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 17, 2001.
Severe weather in Beltrami County since 1996
Beltrami County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Beltrami County
Beltrami County had 20,746 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,299 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Northern itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Northern
- Bemidji, MN4.4 mi · 14,574 people · home $198,300
Northern questions
Is Northern, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northern scores better for retirees than 94% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 13%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Northern?
The median owner-occupied home in Northern is valued at $320,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,848, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,369 a month.
What is the weather like in Northern?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows -3.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.9 inches of snow.
Does Northern get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northern since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 4, 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)