Murdock is a rural town in Swift County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 306 at the 2020 census. The city is part of the Kerhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (KMS) school district. Murdock has Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Elementary School which is for grades PreK-5.

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

Town numbers

ZIP code56271

Area code320

Living in Murdock

Work & commute in Murdock

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Murdock for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Willmar (20%), Kerkhoven (8%) and Benson (7%). Half commute less than 19 miles.

Willmar

20%

Kerkhoven

Benson

Fargo, ND

5%Work in townlive and work in Murdock 19 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 174Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Murdock →

Health in Murdock

Compared with Minnesota

14worse than MN

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 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

15.7%More older adults who have lost all their teethMN 8.9% · worse 11%More uninsured adultsMN 7.5% · worse 8%More adults facing a utility shut-offMN 5.7% · worse

Care nearby

Centracare - BensonBenson · 12.2 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Service Inc. - WillmarWillmar · 17.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Murdock

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 48% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🧊 Hail

0Does Murdock flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 16 declared for Swift County

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

Climate in Murdock

Full climate →

Murdock has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 43 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

25° / 7°Winter

54° / 33°Spring

80° / 58°Summer

57° / 36°Fall

How much snow does Murdock get?About 43 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 3, with the last in spring around May 4.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 Murdock →

Schools in Murdock

All Murdock schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Murdock’s kids attend outperform 51% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictKERKHOVEN-MURDOCK-SUNBURGSchools1

Murdock Elementary BElementary · Grades PK–6 · 395 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.