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CITY

Bemidji

Minnesota · 15,770 residents (2025 est.) · 17.44 sq mi
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The short version

Bemidji has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,405. Population has grown 31% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $198,300. At a median age of 30.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 21.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 38% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.0
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 76%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,569
+31%since 2000
from 11,917 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
893 / sq mi
+31%since 2000
from 683 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
30.0
+9%since 2000
from 27.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,770 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K13K15K16K1990201020202024Bemidji
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,405
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,072 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,542
+107%since 2000
from $15,264 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.8%
+16.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.435
−1%since 2010
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade3.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$198,300
+76%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,067
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $433 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
43.1%
−11.1 ptssince 2000
from 54.2% in 2000
56.9% rent
Vacancy rate
8.2%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.0%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 38.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+63%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bemidji on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.7%(9,974)
Black0.7%(89)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(136)
Asian1.1%(131)
Other0%
Diversity Score8.4%(1,003)
2024
White, non-Hispanic70.9%(11,031)
Black1.8%(287)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(498)
Asian1%(162)
Other23.1%(3,591)
Diversity Score55.4%(8,628)
Diversity Score
55
+558%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 28.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 84.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.7%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.4 min
+46%since 2000
from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.9%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.9%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2011
from 61.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.9%
−40.4 ptssince 2009
from 72.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
51.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−39.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2012
from 12.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.1%
−79.7 ptssince 2013
from 86.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.8%
+14.1 ptssince 2017
from 76.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2016
from 96.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bemidji, Minnesota?

Bemidji, Minnesota has about 15,569 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bemidji, Minnesota?

The typical household in Bemidji, Minnesota earns about $55,405 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bemidji, Minnesota expensive?

In Bemidji, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $198,300, and the typical rent is about $1,067 a month.

How educated are people in Bemidji, Minnesota?

About 32.5% of adults age 25 and over in Bemidji, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bemidji, Minnesota?

About 21.3% of people in Bemidji, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bemidji, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Bemidji, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,324 residents, a change of about 38 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →