Bemidji is home to 46,512 people. Few US metro areas rank higher on income. 1% of people across the metro were born outside the United States. Density works out to 19 people per square mile. The median age is 35.3, younger than the US median of 38.9. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $237,500.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $68,975, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 75%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Bemidji
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$117,123 → $237,500(+103%)US over the same years: +67%
Poverty rate24.0% → 16.1%(−7.9 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
White share82.6% → 70.0%(−12.5 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Among the 23 metro and micro areas based in Minnesota
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)22%(580)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.8%(548)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.5%(934)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War7%(185)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.1%(3)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,633 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Bemidji, decade by decade
Bemidji population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
34,384
$50,221
$117,123
20.4%
36.5
2000
39,650
$60,829
$135,349
23.5%
46.3
2010
44,442
$62,425
$206,866
29.1%
49.7
2020
46,228
$61,238
$202,410
29.9%
55.8
2024
46,512
$68,975
$237,500
31.8%
55.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
