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City · 15,569 residents · Beltrami County, Minnesota

Bemidji , Minnesota

In Bemidji, a typical home is worth $198,300 and typical rent is $1,067 a month. Compared with all of Beltrami County, typical household income is 20% lower, the typical home value is 17% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 27 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $198,300

    17% below the county

    40% below Minnesota

    • Bemidji
    • Beltrami
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $1,067a month

    About the same as the county

    17% below Minnesota

    • Bemidji
    • Beltrami
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $55,405a year

    20% below the county

    38% below Minnesota

    • Bemidji
    • Beltrami
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    43%

    27 points below the county

    29 points below Minnesota

    • Bemidji
    • Beltrami
    • Minnesota

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$217,003
4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,023 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Bemidji is in Beltrami County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Beltrami County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Bemidji apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Bemidji has the 2nd lowest homeownership rate of the 152 cities in Minnesota with more than 5,000 people (43%).

  2. Bemidji has the 5th lowest typical household income of the 152 cities in Minnesota with more than 5,000 people ($55,405).

  3. Nearby, in Thief River Falls, the typical rent is $838: 21% less than in Bemidji ($1,067).

  4. The typical home in Bemidji is worth $198,300, 17% less than in Beltrami County as a whole ($237,500).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Bemidji

What homes there are in Bemidji, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Bemidji; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 47%, less than in Beltrami County (70%).

Year built

The typical home in Bemidji was built in 1982, 5 years before the typical one in Beltrami County.

Homes in Bemidji are smaller: 46% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Beltrami County, 61%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Beltrami County is $541,287, and about 94% of owner-occupied homes in Bemidji are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Beltrami County is $1,230: about 62% of rents in Bemidji are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,428 a month

Beltrami County: $1,588 a month

Without a mortgage

$542 a month

Beltrami County: $567 a month

Owners with a mortgage

54%

Beltrami County: 52%

In Bemidji, 54% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,428 a month, against $1,588 in Beltrami County. Without one it drops to $542.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Bemidji rose 42% since 2015–2019, less than in Beltrami County (46%).

Much as in Beltrami County, the typical rent in Bemidji rose 36% since 2015–2019.

Income in Bemidji grew faster than housing: it rose 72%, while home values changed +42% and rent +36%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBemidjiBeltrami CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.1%5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.3%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.102.452.432.53
Drive alone 76%77%69%69%
Carpool 10%10%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Walk or bike 6%3%3%3%
Work from home 6%8%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Bemidji are smaller: 2.10 people on average; in Beltrami County, 2.45.

To get to work, 76% of workers in Bemidji drive alone; in Beltrami County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Bemidji?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Bemidji, worth $198,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income in Bemidji, which is $55,405 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $72,045 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Beltrami County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Bemidji. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,941 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,681

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$194,708
Total interest
$280,139
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,349 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,293 a month

  • Tight

    $1,293 to $1,662 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,662 a month

    Your payment · 36%

Compared with the typical household income in Bemidji ($55,405 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,681
Principal & interest$1,319
Property tax$192
Home insurance$83
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$88

You need at least $6,941 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Bemidji and Beltrami County

Bemidji is in Beltrami County, Minnesota. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Bemidji's own numbers

Typical home value
$198,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,067
Typical yearly household income
$55,405
Households that own their home
43%
Effective property tax rate
1.16%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Beltrami County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,230
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+46%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Beltrami County.

Everything about Beltrami County

Buying

Buying a home in Bemidji

A typical home in Bemidji is worth $198,300: 17% below the county and 40% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in Bemidji ($55,405 a year), a typical home costs 3.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Bemidji 3.6 years
  • Beltrami 3.4 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Beltrami County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Beltrami County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Beltrami County.

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.0% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +46% +37% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +71% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Bemidji next to Beltrami County, Minnesota and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Bemidji $198,300
  • Beltrami $237,500
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Bemidji $1,067
  • Beltrami $1,053
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Bemidji $55,405
  • Beltrami $68,975
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Bemidji next to Beltrami County and Minnesota
Measure Bemidji Beltrami County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $198,300 $237,500 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,067 $1,053 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $55,405 $68,975 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 43% 70% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,300 $2,309 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.16% 0.97% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 45% 44% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Beltrami County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bemidji

For a typical $198,300 home in Bemidji, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Bemidji's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,681a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,941
    Cash to close
    $12,890
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $88

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,645a month

    Down payment
    $9,915
    Cash to close
    $15,864
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $94

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,349a month

    Down payment
    $39,660
    Cash to close
    $45,609
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,532a month

    Down payment
    $29,745
    Cash to close
    $35,694
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Bemidji and for Beltrami County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Bemidji

1.16%of the home’s value each year

$2,300 a year for the typical owner in Bemidji.

  • Bemidji 1.16%
  • Beltrami 0.97%
  • Minnesota 1.02%

What Minnesota publishes Homestead market value exclusion (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Minnesota

Flood risk in Beltrami County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Beltrami County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Beltrami County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Bemidji

Typical rent in Bemidji is $1,067 a month: about the same as the county. In Bemidji, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Beltrami County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,230 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.65 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Beltrami County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $883 $16.98 $35,320
1 bedroom $940 $18.08 $37,600
2 bedrooms $1,230 $23.65 $49,200
3 bedrooms $1,466 $28.19 $58,640
4 bedrooms $2,041 $39.25 $81,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Bemidji

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Bemidji is in ZIP code 56601.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,250: $20 more than the fair market rent for Beltrami County ($1,230).

  • 56601 $1,250$1,500

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Bemidji when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Bemidji

HUD lists 11 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Bemidji. These are the largest.

  • Northland Apartments 619 America Ave NW, Bemidji 56601 120 low-income homes · Run by HRA of BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA · Average payment: $424 a month · Average wait: 16 months (218) 444-4522
  • Red Pine Estates, A LMTD Ptnrshp 2570 Ridgeway Ave NW, Bemidji 56601 86 low-income homes · For families (218) 751-7842
  • Park Place of Bemidji 600 3rd St NW, Bemidji 56601 60 low-income homes · Studio: 60 · In service since 2018
  • Delton Manor 1903 Delton Ave NW, Bemidji 56601 60 homes, 54 low-income · For families (218) 759-2523
  • Baker Housing 803 Dewey Ave NE, Bemidji 56601 49 low-income homes · For older adults (218) 751-7249

See all 30 buildings in Beltrami County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Bemidji

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Beltrami County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Bemidji

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Bemidji or Beltrami County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in Bemidji the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Minnesota

  • Deferred Payment Loan (Start Up)

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota state agency loan for the down payment and closing costs alongside the Start Up mortgage for first-time buyers: up to $14,000 (or $18,000 in the Plus version), with no interest or monthly payments, repaid at the end of the mortgage. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Monthly Payment Loan

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota Housing loan of up to $14,000 for the down payment and closing costs, which you repay over 15 years at the same rate as your Minnesota Housing mortgage; it works with Start Up (first-time buyers) or Step Up. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Bemidji

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Bemidji, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • White Earth Investment Initiative

    103 Graystone Plz, Detroit Lakes · 65 miles away

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (218) 844-7029

  • Kootasca Community Action, Inc.

    822 NE 5th Ave, Grand Rapids · 66 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    218-999-0800x0828

  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

    716 E Street, Brainerd · 84 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (888) 577-2227

All counseling agencies in Minnesota

Help in Spanish near Bemidji

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Bemidji

HUD’s record names them for Bemidji or Beltrami County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • HRA of BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (218) 444-4522

All housing agencies in Minnesota Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Bemidji, with the typical home value.

Everything about Beltrami County Housing in Minnesota

Neighboring counties

If Beltrami County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Bemidji.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Bemidji

Short answers with the numbers for Bemidji and all of Beltrami County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Bemidji?

The typical home value in Bemidji is $198,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Beltrami County it is $237,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Bemidji?

Typical rent in Bemidji is $1,067 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Beltrami County is $1,230.

What is the FHA loan limit in Bemidji?

Bemidji uses the FHA limit for all of Beltrami County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Bemidji?

The typical homeowner in Bemidji pays $2,300 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.16% of the home’s value; in Beltrami County, the rate is 0.97%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Bemidji?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Beltrami County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).