Fertile ( FUR-til) is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Grand Forks ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 804 at the 2020 census. The annual Polk County Fair is held in Fertile and dates to 1900. This is Fertile's main attraction during the summer. It holds many competitions for crops, animals, and manmade items.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code56540

Area code218

Living in Fertile

Housing in Fertile

$249K▲ 7.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Fertile home is worth about $249,000, up 7.2% in a year, 29% below the Minnesota typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Fertile

Full picture →

About one in 5 of Fertile’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Crookston (21%), Thief River Falls (6%) and Fargo (6%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Crookston

21%

Thief River Falls

Fargo, ND

Grand Forks, ND

20%Work in townlive and work in Fertile 23 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 428Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Fertile →

Health in Fertile

Compared with Minnesota

1better than MN·6worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 25 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

81.4%More adults treating high blood pressureMN 76.1% · better 8.1%More adults with heart diseaseMN 5.9% · worse

Care nearby

Essentia Health AdaAda · 19.8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Spectra Health Dental ClinicGrand Forks · 44 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Fertile

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 64% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌵 Drought

0Does Fertile flood?no paid flood claims on record 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Fertile

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

Climate in Fertile

Full climate →

Fertile has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to -2°, and about 50 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

19° / 2°Winter

51° / 30°Spring

78° / 55°Summer

53° / 34°Fall

How much snow does Fertile get?About 50 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 28, with the last in spring around May 7.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.5° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Fertile →

Schools in Fertile

All Fertile schools →

School Grade A

The public schools Fertile’s kids attend outperform 93% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictFERTILE-BELTRAMI SCHOOL DISTRICTSchools2

Fertile-Beltrami Elementary AElementary · Grades PK–6 · 249 students Fertile-Beltrami Secondary B+High · Grades 7–12 · 246 students

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