1908 · The fisherman · Library of Congress
Bemidji’s story
Bemidji in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 6 places on the National Register.
- 1908The fisherman
- 1910Lake Bemidji
BemidjiMN
A town of 15,569. A regional job hub with 14,295 jobs.
6 bordering townsMap →
Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
15,569
+8.5% since 2010
Typical home
$220K
+4.3% in a year
Household income
$55K
median
Median age
30.0
years
Jobs based here
14,295
A job hub
What makes Bemidji stand out
The 3 things Bemidji does most differently from other towns.
14,295jobs here
Work
14,295 jobs
based in Bemidji, a regional job hub
55% of working residents work in town.
$220Ktypical home
Housing
$220K typical home
37% below the MN typical home
Up 4.3% in a year.
100 U.S. towns● Bemidji
Health
Healthier than 51%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than MN on 2 measures, worse on 15.
College town
15% of Bemidji is in college
2 colleges in town.
Bemidji State University2,440 students on campus
- Admission
- 56%
- Net price
- $15,261
- Graduate
- 48%
- Admission
- Open
- Net price
- $10,996
- Graduate
- 50%
College Scorecard · IPEDS
Bemidji’s report card
Commute3 miHalf of commuters travel lessHousing$220K37% below the MN typical homeHealthB−Healthier than 51% of U.S. townsSafetyD−Less crime than 3% of U.S. townsOutdoors18 mi#68 for trails in MNClimate79°/-3°Summer high · winter low · 49″ snowHazards41/100Moderate risk of storm & flood damageSchoolsB−Beats 45% of MN districts
Now in Bemidji
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Bemidji? Is a D− for safety right?
Your answer becomes a post in Bemidji’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →42°
Clear
Tonight L 37°
Local news
All →- Commentary: Building safer communities from Baudette to BemidjiBemidji Pioneer · Sep 26
- Letter to the Editor: Your local hospital was outstandingBemidji Pioneer · Sep 26
- Could northern Minnesota spot be the next Hallmark holiday town?The Public Opinion · Sep 25
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bemidji. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About half of working residents work right in Bemidji
55% of Bemidji’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Cass Lake (3%), Red Lake (2%) and Northern Township (2%). Half commute less than 3 miles.
55%work in town
Where working residents work
In Bemidji55%
Cass Lake3%
Red Lake2%
Northern Township2%
Pike Bay Township2%
3 mi
median commute distance
14,295
jobs based in Bemidji
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Bemidji home is worth about $220K
The typical Bemidji home is worth about $220,000, up 4.3% in a year, 37% below the Minnesota typical home.
$220KZillow home value
Typical home value
Bemidji$220K
Minnesota$351K
Market temperature
57
days on market
97.8%
sale-to-list price
+4.3%
value change, 1 year
18
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 51% of U.S. towns
Bemidji beats the Minnesota average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15.
B−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Minnesota
2 better15 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Bemidji | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.6% | 8.5% |
| Fewer adults with high cholesterol | 30.2% | 33.4% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 10.8% | 7.1% |
Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
1.5 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
20th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 3% of U.S. towns
Bemidji reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 97% report less.
D−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Bemidji7.3
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Bemidji45
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
3rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
1st
percentile among MN towns
115
violent crimes reported in 2025
712
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Outdoors
4.8% of Bemidji is conserved land
18 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves.
#68for trails in MN
4.8%
conserved · 678 of 14,194 acres
18 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
#133
most conserved land in MN
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bemidji City Park | 2.2 mi | 102 |
| 2. Brinkman Park | 0.4 mi | 53 |
| 3. North Country Park | 0.4 mi | 18 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Bemidji has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to -3°, and about 49 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
49″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter1–21°
Spring28–51°
Summer54–77°
Fall33–52°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 17
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 41% of U.S. communities.
41risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Schools
Bemidji’s public schools outperform 45% of Minnesota districts
The public schools Bemidji’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 55% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Dillon Elementary School | 4–5 | 667 | B |
| Lincoln Elementary | PK–3 | 320 | A |
| J.W. Smith Elementary | PK–3 | 238 | B− |
| Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn | K–8 | 133 | C− |
| St. Mark Lutheran School Private | K–8 | 24 | |
| Bemidji Middle | 6–8 | 967 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduationAll 21 schools →
A job hub
Every workday, about 10,829 people come to Bemidji for work
Where Bemidji’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
14,295jobs based in Bemidji
55%of working residents work in town
3 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
6 places in Bemidji on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Bemidji
43 notable people were born in Bemidji.
About Bemidji
City in Minnesota, United States
Bemidji ( bə-MIJ-ee) is a city in and the county seat of Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 14,574 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated at 15,770 in 2025, making it the largest commercial center between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Duluth. As a central city for three Indian reservations, Bemidji is the site of many Native American services, including the Indian Health Service. Near Bemidji are the Red Lake Indian Reservation, White Earth Indian Reservation, and the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Bemidji lies on the southwest shore of Lake Bemidji, the northernmost lake feeding the Mississippi River; it is nicknamed "The First City on the Mississippi". Bemidji…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 14,574
- Area
- 16 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,365 ft
- ZIP code
- 56601, 56619
- Area code
- 218
Bemidji’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Bemidji.
Bemidji TownshipNorthern TownshipEckles TownshipGrant Valley TownshipFrohn TownshipTurtle River TownshipBemidji
More about Bemidji
Still missing for Bemidji:upcoming events