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City · 9,028 residents · Polk County, Minnesota

East Grand Forks , Minnesota

In East Grand Forks, a typical home is worth $255,600 and typical rent is $888 a month. Compared with all of Polk County, the typical home value is 15% higher and typical household income is 6% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $255,600

    15% above the county

    22% below Minnesota

    • East Grand Forks
    • Polk
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $888a month

    4% above the county

    31% below Minnesota

    • East Grand Forks
    • Polk
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $77,549a year

    6% above the county

    13% below Minnesota

    • East Grand Forks
    • Polk
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    68%

    3 points below the county

    4 points below Minnesota

    • East Grand Forks
    • Polk
    • Minnesota

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$297,430
6.1% more than 12 months ago

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

East Grand Forks is in Polk 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 Polk County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets East Grand Forks apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Thief River Falls, the typical home value is $175,400: 31% less than in East Grand Forks ($255,600).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in East Grand Forks rose 6.1%; in Minnesota, it rose 2.3%.

  3. East Grand Forks has the 9th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 139 cities in Minnesota with more than 5,000 people (64%).

  4. East Grand Forks has the 15th lowest typical rent of the 148 cities in Minnesota with more than 5,000 people ($888).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in East Grand Forks

What homes there are in East Grand Forks, 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

Detached houses are the majority in East Grand Forks (65%), but less so than in Polk County (72%).

Year built

The typical home in East Grand Forks was built in 1976, 5 years after the typical one in Polk County.

Homes in East Grand Forks are smaller: 58% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Polk County, 63%.

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

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 95% of owner-occupied homes in East Grand Forks sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,708 a month

Polk County: $1,617 a month

Without a mortgage

$670 a month

Polk County: $623 a month

Owners with a mortgage

69%

Polk County: 57%

In East Grand Forks, 69% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,708 a month, against $1,617 in Polk County. Without one it drops to $670.

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 East Grand Forks rose 30% since 2015–2019, less than in Polk County (35%).

The typical rent in East Grand Forks rose 23% over the same time; in Polk County, it rose 19%.

The typical household income in East Grand Forks rose 29% over that time; home values changed +30% and rent +23%.

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

MeasureEast Grand ForksPolk CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.9%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.582.382.432.53
Drive alone 80%78%69%69%
Carpool 8%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate6%3%3%
Work from home 6%6%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More people live in each home here: 2.58 on average, against 2.38 in Polk County.

To get to work, 80% of workers in East Grand Forks drive alone; in Polk County, 78%.

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 East Grand Forks?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in East Grand Forks, worth $255,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 34% of the typical household income in East Grand Forks, which is $77,549 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $93,501 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in East Grand Forks. 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 $8,946 (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

$2,182

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$250,970
Total interest
$361,088
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,316 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,809 a month

  • Tight

    $1,809 to $2,326 a month

    Your payment · 34%

  • Hard

    more than $2,326 a month

Compared with the typical household income in East Grand Forks ($77,549 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,182
Principal & interest$1,700
Property tax$262
Home insurance$107
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$113

You need at least $8,946 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

East Grand Forks and Polk County

East Grand Forks is in Polk 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).

East Grand Forks's own numbers

Typical home value
$255,600
Typical monthly rent
$888
Typical yearly household income
$77,549
Households that own their home
68%
Effective property tax rate
1.23%

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

Numbers for all of Polk County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+37%

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 Polk County.

Everything about Polk County

Buying

Buying a home in East Grand Forks

A typical home in East Grand Forks is worth $255,600: 15% above the county and 22% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in East Grand Forks ($77,549 a year), a typical home costs 3.3 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.

  • East Grand Forks 3.3 years
  • Polk 3.0 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Polk County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Polk County rose 55% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.6% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +37% +37% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +55% +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

East Grand Forks next to Polk 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
  • East Grand Forks $255,600
  • Polk $222,800
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • East Grand Forks $888
  • Polk $855
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • East Grand Forks $77,549
  • Polk $73,107
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
East Grand Forks next to Polk County and Minnesota
Measure East Grand Forks Polk County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $255,600 $222,800 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $888 $855 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $77,549 $73,107 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 68% 71% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,156 $2,245 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.23% 1.01% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 64% 55% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Polk 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 East Grand Forks

For a typical $255,600 home in East Grand Forks, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, East Grand Forks's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,182a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,946
    Cash to close
    $16,614
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $113

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,135a month

    Down payment
    $12,780
    Cash to close
    $20,448
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $121

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,754a month

    Down payment
    $51,120
    Cash to close
    $58,788
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,990a month

    Down payment
    $38,340
    Cash to close
    $46,008
    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 East Grand Forks and for Polk County.

Property tax

Effective rate in East Grand Forks

1.23%of the home’s value each year

$3,156 a year for the typical owner in East Grand Forks.

  • East Grand Forks 1.23%
  • Polk 1.01%
  • 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 Polk County

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

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Polk 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 East Grand Forks

Typical rent in East Grand Forks is $888 a month: 4% above the county. In East Grand Forks, 64% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Polk County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,014 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.50 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Polk 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 $816 $15.69 $32,640
1 bedroom $821 $15.79 $32,840
2 bedrooms $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
3 bedrooms $1,404 $27.00 $56,160
4 bedrooms $1,695 $32.60 $67,800

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 East Grand Forks

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). East Grand Forks is in ZIP code 56721.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,010: $4 less than the fair market rent for Polk County ($1,014).

  • 56721 $1,010$1,410

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for East Grand Forks 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 East Grand Forks

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in East Grand Forks. These are the largest.

  • Town Square 208 2nd St NW, East Grand Forks 56721 81 low-income homes · For older adults (218) 773-3631
  • Northwood Park Townhomes 1819 3rd Ave NW, East Grand Forks 56721 28 homes, 27 low-income · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1999
  • Heritage Highlands II Multiple Building Addresses, East Grand Forks 56721 24 homes, 23 low-income · 2 bd: 14 · 3 bd: 10 · In service since 1999

See all 13 buildings in Polk County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in East Grand Forks

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 Polk County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

An older man and his daughter go over papers with a professional.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in East Grand Forks

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for East Grand Forks or Polk County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in East Grand Forks 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 East Grand Forks

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of East Grand Forks, 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 · 94 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 · 170 miles away

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

  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

    716 E Street, Brainerd · 172 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 East Grand Forks

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 East Grand Forks

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Polk County is named for East Grand Forks or Polk County.

2 other authorities have an office in Polk County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Polk County

These cities are also in Polk County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Polk County Housing in Minnesota

Nearby cities

The cities closest to East Grand Forks, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Polk 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 East Grand Forks.

All guides
A mother holding her baby watches her daughter blow bubbles outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about East Grand Forks

Short answers with the numbers for East Grand Forks and all of Polk 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 East Grand Forks?

The typical home value in East Grand Forks is $255,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Polk County it is $222,800.

How much does it cost to rent in East Grand Forks?

Typical rent in East Grand Forks is $888 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Polk County is $1,014.

What is the FHA loan limit in East Grand Forks?

East Grand Forks uses the FHA limit for all of Polk 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 East Grand Forks?

The typical homeowner in East Grand Forks pays $3,156 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.23% of the home’s value; in Polk County, the rate is 1.01%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in East Grand Forks?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Polk 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).