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CITY

Thief River Falls

Minnesota · 8,799 residents (2025 est.) · 6.003 sq mi
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Thief River Falls has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,144. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $175,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,823
+5%since 2000
from 8,410 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,470 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 1,401 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.8
Unchangedsince 2000
from 37.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,799 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K8K9K9K1990201020202024Thief River Falls
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,144
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,759 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,447
+131%since 2000
from $17,489 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.1%
+33.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.418
+5%since 2010
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Transportation & warehousing21.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Retail trade16.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$175,400
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$838
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $345 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 66.4% in 2000
36.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
35.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 39.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+37%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
73
RELATED:See current rent listings in Thief River Falls on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(8,047)
Black0.3%(22)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(137)
Asian0.7%(56)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.4%(537)
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.1%(7,505)
Black0.9%(81)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(575)
Asian1.8%(156)
Other5.7%(506)
Diversity Score33.6%(2,961)
Diversity Score
34
+426%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.2%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 15.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.6%
+15.4 ptssince 2000
from 79.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.2 min
−1%since 2000
from 10.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 73.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.2%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 5.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 71.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
6.8%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.6%
−32.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
4.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2012
from 12.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−86.5 ptssince 2013
from 91.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.0%
+18.1 ptssince 2017
from 68.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2016
from 94.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2016
from 2.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Thief River Falls to nearby cities

THIEF RIVER FALLS VS
East Grand Forks
Income$77,549+9%
Home value$255,600+46%
Population8,906+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THIEF RIVER FALLS VS
Grand Forks
Income$63,627−11%
Home value$249,900+42%
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THIEF RIVER FALLS VS
Bemidji
Income$55,405−22%
Home value$198,300+13%
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THIEF RIVER FALLS VS
Moorhead
Income$72,761+2%
Home value$249,000+42%
Population46,533+429%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Thief River Falls, Minnesota?

Thief River Falls, Minnesota has about 8,823 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Thief River Falls, Minnesota?

The typical household in Thief River Falls, Minnesota earns about $71,144 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Thief River Falls, Minnesota expensive?

In Thief River Falls, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $175,400, and the typical rent is about $838 a month.

How educated are people in Thief River Falls, Minnesota?

About 21.2% of adults age 25 and over in Thief River Falls, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Thief River Falls, Minnesota?

About 12.2% of people in Thief River Falls, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Thief River Falls, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Thief River Falls, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 813 residents, a change of about 10 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 →