Bemidji, MN: Local News, Events & Neighbors

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…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Bemidji ranks

All →

#38Shortest commute in MN #39Most affordable in MN #46Lowest property tax in MN All MN rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code56601, 56619

Area code218

Living in Bemidji

Housing in Bemidji

$239K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $239,000 in May 2026.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market57

Sale-to-list97.8%

Sold in May18

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Bemidji

D⁻

Safety Grade D-

Bemidji reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 97% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Bemidji 7.3

Minnesota 2.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Bemidji 45

Minnesota 14.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Bemidji

Compared with Minnesota

2better than MN·15worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 4▼ 6 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.6%Fewer adults who have had cancerMN 8.5% · better 30.2%Fewer adults with high cholesterolMN 33.4% · better 10.8%More adults without reliable transportationMN 7.1% · worse

Care nearby

Sanford Bemidji Medical CenterBemidji · 1.5 mi · ER

Scenic Rivers Health ServicesNorthome · 38.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Bemidji · CMS · HRSAHealth in Bemidji →

Schools in Bemidji

All Bemidji schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

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.

See how Bemidji’s schools compare in MN →

DistrictBemidji Public School DistrictSchools21

Gene Dillon Elementary School BElementary · Grades 4–5 · 667 students Lincoln Elementary AElementary · Grades PK–3 · 320 students J.W. Smith Elementary B-Elementary · Grades PK–3 · 238 students Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn C-Elementary · Grades K–8 · 133 students St. Mark Lutheran SchoolElementary · Grades K–8 · 24 students Bemidji Middle C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 967 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.