Fosston is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Greater Grand Forks region. The population was 1,434 at the time of the 2020 census.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code56542

Area code218

Living in Fosston

Housing in Fosston

$230K▲ 6.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Fosston home is worth about $230,000, up 6.6% in a year, 35% below the Minnesota typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Fosston

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Fosston reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 78% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Fosston 6.6

Minnesota 2.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Fosston 19

Minnesota 14.3

U.S. 15.5

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

Work & commute in Fosston

Full picture →

About one in 4 of Fosston’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Crookston (9%), Thief River Falls (6%) and Bagley (5%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Crookston

Thief River Falls

Bagley

Bemidji

27%Work in townlive and work in Fosston 23 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 705Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Fosston →

Health in Fosston

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 37% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 71% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Minnesota

1better than MN·11worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

82.7%More adults treating high blood pressureMN 76.1% · better 16.9%More older adults who have lost all their teethMN 8.9% · worse

Care nearby

Essentia Health FosstonFosston · 1.1 mi · ER · rural critical access

Spectra Health Dental ClinicGrand Forks · 63.7 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 Fosston · CMS · HRSAHealth in Fosston →

Natural hazards in Fosston

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 32% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌵 Drought

0Does Fosston flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Fosston MapFosston vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Fosston

Full climate →

Fosston has cold winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to -3°.

20° / 1°Winter

51° / 29°Spring

77° / 54°Summer

52° / 33°Fall

When is the first frost?Around Sep 26, with the last in spring around May 15.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Fosston

All Fosston schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Fosston’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 60% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictFOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTSchools2

Magelssen Elementary A-Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 340 students Fosston Secondary C+High · Grades 7–12 · 256 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.