Orwell, MN housing market
Home prices around Orwell have risen about 45% over the past 5 years. No new homes were permitted in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Orwell compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 45% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP codes around Orwell rose 45% over the past 5 years, faster than across Minnesota (37%). Prices were about flat last year.
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| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Minnesota since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | −0.4% | +140% | +127% |
| 2024 | +12% | +141% | +120% |
| 2023 | +6.9% | +115% | +113% |
| 2022 | +11% | +101% | +104% |
| 2021 | +9.5% | +81% | +82% |
| 2020 | +2.3% | +65% | +66% |
| 2019 | +5.8% | +62% | +61% |
| 2018 | +2.9% | +53% | +55% |
| 2017 | +4.2% | +48% | +46% |
| 2016 | +2.5% | +42% | +38% |
| 2015 | +3% | +39% | +32% |
| 2014 | +3.9% | +35% | +28% |
| 2013 | +1.5% | +30% | +21% |
| 2012 | −0.7% | +28% | +16% |
| 2011 | −1.4% | +29% | +18% |
| 2010 | −4.7% | +31% | +25% |
| 2009 | −1.9% | +37% | +33% |
| 2008 | +0.7% | +40% | +42% |
| 2007 | +1.6% | +39% | +48% |
| 2006 | +6.4% | +36% | +49% |
| 2005 | +6.6% | +28% | +45% |
| 2004 | +6.5% | +20% | +34% |
| 2003 | +5.1% | +13% | +23% |
| 2002 | +4.4% | +7.4% | +18% |
| 2001 | +2.8% | +2.8% | +9.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP codes 56537, 56522, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost.
No new homes permitted in 2025
No permits for new homes were issued in Orwell in 2025. The last year with any was 2020 (1 new home).
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| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $300,000 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $300,000 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $300,000 |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $300,000 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $300,000 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $300,000 |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $300,000 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Orwell and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orwell | — | −0.4%† | $1,000 | 0 | $91,154 |
| Fergus Falls | — | −0.4%† | $990 | 20 | $56,162 |
| Buse | — | −0.4%† | $990 | 2 | $92,500 |
| Fergus Falls | $205K | +4.4% | $990 | 1 | $100,074 |
| Western | — | — | $1,160 | 0 | $103,333 |
| Carlisle | — | −0.4%† | $990 | — | $113,750 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,000
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Orwell is $1,000 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs.
Studio $690 · 4 bedrooms $1,450
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (56522, 56537; Grant County, MN), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.