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 →

#21Closest to a top hospital in MN #38Shortest commute in MN #39Most affordable 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 →

Work & commute in Bemidji

Full picture →

55% of Bemidji’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Cass Lake (3%), Red Lake (2%) and Northern (2%). Half commute less than 3 miles.

Cass Lake

Red Lake

Northern

Pike Bay

55%Work in townlive and work in Bemidji 3 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 14,295Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Bemidji →

Health in Bemidji

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 50% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 82% of towns with similar incomes.

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 →

Natural hazards in Bemidji

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 41% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Bemidji flood?no paid flood claims on record 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Bemidji MapBemidji vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Bemidji →

Climate in Bemidji

Full climate →

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.

21° / 1°Winter

51° / 28°Spring

77° / 54°Summer

52° / 33°Fall

How much snow does Bemidji get?About 49 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 26, with the last in spring around May 17.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate 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.