Thomson, MN housing market
Home prices around Thomson have risen about 64% over the past 5 years. Builders were permitted 55 new homes in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Thomson compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 64% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP codes around Thomson rose 64% over the past 5 years, faster than across Minnesota (37%). Last year prices rose 16%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical Thomson home at roughly $593,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Minnesota since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +16% | +202% | +127% |
| 2024 | −4.6% | +161% | +120% |
| 2023 | +14% | +174% | +113% |
| 2022 | +16% | +139% | +104% |
| 2021 | +12% | +107% | +82% |
| 2020 | +3.9% | +85% | +66% |
| 2019 | +2.7% | +78% | +61% |
| 2018 | +5.9% | +73% | +55% |
| 2017 | +2.6% | +63% | +46% |
| 2016 | +5.3% | +59% | +38% |
| 2015 | +1.8% | +51% | +32% |
| 2014 | +3.6% | +49% | +28% |
| 2013 | +1.9% | +43% | +21% |
| 2012 | −4.1% | +41% | +16% |
| 2011 | −1.4% | +47% | +18% |
| 2010 | −2.1% | +49% | +25% |
| 2009 | −4.7% | +52% | +33% |
| 2008 | +2.1% | +60% | +42% |
| 2007 | −2.3% | +56% | +48% |
| 2006 | +7.9% | +60% | +49% |
| 2005 | +9.4% | +48% | +45% |
| 2004 | +9.2% | +35% | +34% |
| 2003 | +7.9% | +24% | +23% |
| 2002 | +5.4% | +15% | +18% |
| 2001 | +9.1% | +9.1% | +9.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
How Thomson ranks on rising home prices →
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP codes 55733, 55810, 55720, 55718, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
55 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 55 new homes in Thomson in 2025: 13 single-family houses and 42 in buildings with two or more homes, worth about $6.8 million to build. That's 9.9 per 1,000 residents, faster than across Minnesota (3.8). Over the past 10 years, Thomson has permitted 241 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Thomson gained 462 residents while 152 new homes were permitted: about 3 new residents per new home. Building and growth moved roughly in step. Across Minnesota: 2.2 new residents per new home.
How Thomson ranks on housing keeping up with growth →
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 6 | 6 | 0 | $898,000 |
| 2025 | 55 | 13 | 42 | $6.8 million |
| 2024 | 34 | 6 | 28 | $4.7 million |
| 2023 | 15 | 9 | 6 | $4.1 million |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $2 million |
| 2021 | 38 | 14 | 24 | $7.6 million |
| 2020 | 15 | 15 | 0 | $3.9 million |
| 2019 | 22 | 18 | 4 | $5.6 million |
| 2018 | 20 | 20 | 0 | $4.6 million |
| 2017 | 14 | 14 | 0 | $3.2 million |
| 2016 | 22 | 22 | 0 | $6 million |
| 2015 | 15 | 15 | 0 | $3.3 million |
| 2014 | 18 | 18 | 0 | $5.3 million |
| 2013 | 12 | 12 | 0 | $2.5 million |
| 2012 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $2.8 million |
| 2011 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $2.2 million |
| 2010 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $1.9 million |
| 2009 | 10 | 10 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2008 | 21 | 21 | 0 | $4.6 million |
| 2007 | 28 | 28 | 0 | $6.4 million |
| 2006 | 30 | 30 | 0 | $5.8 million |
| 2005 | 34 | 34 | 0 | $7.2 million |
| 2004 | 43 | 40 | 3 | $7.5 million |
| 2003 | 53 | 53 | 0 | $8.8 million |
| 2002 | 39 | 39 | 0 | $6.6 million |
| 2001 | 37 | 37 | 0 | $6 million |
| 2000 | 33 | 31 | 2 | $4.9 million |
How Thomson ranks on new homes being built →
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Thomson and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomson | — | +15.8%† | $1,680 | 55 | $119,338 |
| Twin Lakes | — | +19.4%† | $1,090 | — | $105,272 |
| Carlton | $337K | +3.4% | $1,230 | 5 | $63,375 |
| Cloquet | $266K | +3.3% | $1,260 | 14 | $61,367 |
| Scanlon | $285K | +1.8% | $1,260 | 2 | $68,750 |
| Solway | — | +11.5%† | $1,410 | — | $101,458 |
| Midway | — | +11.6%† | $1,360 | 4 | $103,714 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
2.8 years of income
The typical Thomson home costs about 2.8 years of the town's median household income, less than across Minnesota (3.9 years).
How Thomson ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,680
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Thomson is $1,680 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Thomson pay a median of $1,215, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 17% of the town's median household income.
Studio $1,160 · 4 bedrooms $2,810
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (55718, 55720, 55733, 55810; Duluth, MN-WI MSA), 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.