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Moorhead, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Moorhead, Minnesota had a total population of 45,036, the 23rd largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $72,761, which is 18% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Moorhead Quick Facts

Population 45,036
Median Household Income $72,761
Median Home Value $249,000
Poverty Rate 16.1%
Unemployment Rate 5.0%
Median Age 31.3 years
Homeownership Rate 58.1%
Affordability Ratio 3.4x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 41.6%
High School Graduation Rate 95.3%
Diversity Index 34/100
Population 45,036 23rd of 914
Median Income $72,761 average
Poverty Rate 16.1% 30% higher than national
Median Home Value $249,000 top 30%

How Moorhead Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population44,70645,036+0.7%
Median household income$69,371$72,761+4.9%
Median home value$246,300$249,000+1.1%

How Moorhead Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.5%
$25K-$50K 15.9%
$50K-$100K 28.9%
$100K+ 35.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.2%
$10K-$15K
4.2%
$15K-$20K
4.6%
$20K-$25K
3.4%
$25K-$30K
3.1%
$30K-$35K
3.3%
$35K-$40K
3.4%
$40K-$45K
2.6%
$45K-$50K
3.5%
$50K-$60K
6.7%
$60K-$75K
8.6%
$75K-$100K
13.6%
$100K-$125K
11.9%
$125K-$150K
6.8%
$150K-$200K
10.1%
$200K+
6.9%

Employment

5.0% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%
70.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 58.1%
Renter 41.9%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.4x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,033/mo 17.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

34out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Moorhead Rankings in Minnesota

#23 Population of 914
#388 Median Income of 887
#107 Education of 914
#263 Home Value of 870

Other Cities in Clay County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Dilworth 4,713 $90,694 15.1% $261,800
Barnesville 2,762 $97,917 1.8% $248,700
Hawley 2,178 $99,188 4.6% $280,400
Glyndon 1,098 $95,313 8.0% $264,800
Sabin 718 $128,500 0.7% $265,700
Ulen 413 $60,556 24.4% $174,300
Hitterdal 314 $48,750 14.3% $151,600
Felton 186 $40,000 18.4% $157,700
Comstock 100 $76,250 1.0% $162,500
Georgetown 72 $41,750 16.7% $115,000

Cities Similar to Moorhead

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Mankato45,473$66,873$261,70035.1%20.6%
Shakopee46,012$107,223$374,80040.4%5.9%
Maplewood40,695$91,394$323,20035.3%11.2%
St. Louis Park49,594$101,648$386,80064.2%6.9%
Richfield36,642$85,132$344,00043.7%8.2%

Population Overview

Moorhead is a mid-sized community located in Minnesota, within Clay County. The total population is 45,036. It ranks as the 23rd most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Moorhead is 31.3 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Moorhead is $72,761. This is 18% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.1%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 23% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $249,000. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 58.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Moorhead is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.0%. The Asian population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

41.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Moorhead, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Moorhead, Minnesota?

Moorhead, Minnesota has a population of 45,036 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Moorhead, MN?

The median household income in Moorhead is $72,761, which is 10% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Moorhead, MN?

The poverty rate in Moorhead is 16.1%. This means approximately 6,813 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Moorhead, Minnesota?

Moorhead's population is 80.4% White, 6.0% Black, 5.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Moorhead, MN?

The median home value in Moorhead is $249,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x.

How educated is Moorhead, Minnesota?

41.6% of adults (25+) in Moorhead hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.