In Moorhead, a typical home is worth $249,000 and typical rent is $1,033 a month. Compared with all of Clay County, typical household income is 10% lower, the typical home value is 6% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $246,965 to $291,109.
Typical rent
$1,093a month
▲ 2.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2022 to September 2026: from $938 to $1,093.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Moorhead is in Clay 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 Clay County. See the county
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: 30% less than in Moorhead ($249,000).
2
Nearby, in Thief River Falls, the typical rent is $838: 19% less than in Moorhead ($1,033).
3
58% of households in Moorhead own their home, against 66% in Clay County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Moorhead
What homes there are in Moorhead, 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 houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Moorhead
Clay County
Minnesota
United States
Kind of home: Moorhead and its comparisons
Measure
Moorhead
Clay County
Minnesota
United States
Detached house
51%
60%
66%
61%
Attached house
11%
9%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
3%
3%
4%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
33%
26%
19%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Moorhead, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Clay County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Moorhead
Clay County
Minnesota
United States
Year built: Moorhead and its comparisons
Measure
Moorhead
Clay County
Minnesota
United States
Before 1960
22%
24%
29%
26%
1960–1979
26%
26%
23%
24%
1980–1999
17%
17%
24%
25%
2000–2009
17%
17%
13%
14%
2010 or later
18%
16%
10%
11%
In Moorhead, half of the homes were built before 1983; in Clay County, before 1981.
Homes in Moorhead are smaller: 56% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Clay County, 62%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K5%
$100K–$200K20%
$200K–$300K39%
$300K–$500K30%
$500K–$750K5%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Moorhead and its comparisons
Measure
Moorhead
Under $100K
5%
$100K–$200K
20%
$200K–$300K
39%
$300K–$500K
30%
$500K–$750K
5%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
By price, most homes in Moorhead sit under the FHA limit for Clay County ($541,287): about 95%.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $5005%
$500–$99943%
$1,000–$1,49935%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,104
$1,500–$1,99912%
$2,000–$2,4994%
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Moorhead and its comparisons
Measure
Moorhead
Under $500
5%
$500–$999
43%
$1,000–$1,499
35%
$1,500–$1,999
12%
$2,000–$2,499
4%
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
About 55% of rented homes in Moorhead cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Clay County ($1,104); the rest cost more.
With a mortgage
$1,807 a month
Clay County: $1,827 a month
Without a mortgage
$665 a month
Clay County: $677 a month
Owners with a mortgage
65%
Clay County: 65%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Moorhead is $1,807 a month, near the figure in Clay County ($1,827).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Moorhead+28%
Clay County+35%
Minnesota+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Moorhead+17%
Clay County+18%
Minnesota+31%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Moorhead+21%
Clay County+24%
Minnesota+25%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Moorhead and its comparisons
Measure
Moorhead
Clay County
Minnesota
United States
Typical home value
+28%
+35%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+17%
+18%
+31%
+33%
Typical household income
+21%
+24%
+25%
+29%
Homes in Moorhead gained value more slowly than in Clay County: 28% since 2015–2019, against 35%.
The typical rent in Moorhead rose 17% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Clay County (18%).
To compare: typical income in Moorhead rose 21%; the home, +28%; the rent, +17%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Moorhead and its comparisons
Measure
Moorhead
Clay County
Minnesota
United States
Rental vacancy
5.1%
5.2%
5.3%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.6%
0.9%
More than one person per room
2.0%
1.6%
2.3%
3.4%
People per household
2.28
2.38
2.43
2.53
Drive alone
74%
75%
69%
69%
Carpool
7%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
2%
2%
2%
3%
Walk or bike
4%
4%
3%
3%
Work from home
13%
12%
18%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Open rentals in Moorhead look like those in Clay County: the rental vacancy rate is 5.1%.
Much as in Clay County, 2.0% of households in Moorhead have more than one person per room.
By size, households in Moorhead look like those in Clay County: 2.28 people on average.
To get to work, 74% of workers in Moorhead drive alone; in Clay County, 75%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Moorhead?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Moorhead, worth $249,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Moorhead, which is $72,761 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $91,265 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Clay County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Moorhead. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,715 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,130
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$244,490
Total interest
$351,764
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,205 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,698 a month
Tight
$1,698 to $2,183 a month
Your payment · 35%
Hard
more than $2,183 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Moorhead ($72,761 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,656
Property tax
$259
Home insurance
$104
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$110
You need at least $8,715 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
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.
Total monthly payment $2,130; principal and interest $1,656.
The city and its county
Moorhead and Clay County
Moorhead is in Clay 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).
Moorhead
Map of Clay County, Minnesota, with Moorhead marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Moorhead
Clay County
Other cities with a page
Moorhead's own numbers
Typical home value
$249,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,033
Typical yearly household income
$72,761
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
1.25%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Clay County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,104
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+36%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.3%
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 Clay County.
A typical home in Moorhead is worth $249,000: 6% below the county and 24% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in Moorhead ($72,761 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 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.
Moorhead3.4 years
Clay3.3 years
Minnesota3.7 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Clay County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Clay County rose 57% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Clay County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Clay County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +5.9% +5.9% 2016
2017: +3.5% +3.5% 2017
2018: +2.8% +2.8% 2018
2019: +1.2% +1.2% 2019
2020: +0.8% +0.8% 2020
2021: +7.2% +7.2% 2021
2022: +10.8% +10.8% 2022
2023: +5.5% +5.5% 2023
2024: +3.8% +3.8% 2024
2025: +4.8% +4.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Clay County, Minnesota and the United States
Period
County
Minnesota
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+4.8%
+2.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+36%
+37%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+57%
+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
Moorhead next to Clay 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
Moorhead$249,000
Clay$265,500
Minnesota$329,300
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Moorhead$1,033
Clay$1,019
Minnesota$1,280
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Moorhead$72,761
Clay$81,172
Minnesota$89,062
United States$80,734
See the full table
Moorhead next to Clay County and Minnesota
Measure
Moorhead
Clay County
Minnesota
U.S.
Typical home value
$249,000 ▼6% below the county
$265,500
$329,300
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,033
$1,019
$1,280
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$72,761 ▼10% below the county
$81,172
$89,062
$80,734
Households that own their home
58% ▼8 points below the county
66%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,104 ▲3% above the county
$3,013
$3,357
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.25% ▲0.12 points above the county
1.13%
1.02%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
54% ▲1 points above the county
53%
48%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Clay 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 Moorhead
For a typical $249,000 home in Moorhead, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Moorhead's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,130a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,715
Cash to close
$16,185
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $110
Conventional, 5% down$2,084a month
Down payment
$12,450
Cash to close
$19,920
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $118
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,713a month
Down payment
$49,800
Cash to close
$57,270
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,943a month
Down payment
$37,350
Cash to close
$44,820
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Moorhead
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,130
$8,715
$244,490
7.18%
FHA MIP · $110
$16,185
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,084
$12,450
$236,550
7.18%
PMI · $118
$19,920
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,713
$49,800
$199,200
7.18%
None
$57,270
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,943
$37,350
$211,650
8.18%
None
$44,820
Set by the lender
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.
Typical rent in Moorhead is $1,033 a month: about the same as the county. In Moorhead, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Clay County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,104 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.23 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Clay County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$781
$15.02
$31,240
1 bedroom
$903
$17.37
$36,120
2 bedrooms
$1,104
$21.23
$44,160
3 bedrooms
$1,529
$29.40
$61,160
4 bedrooms
$1,845
$35.48
$73,800
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 Moorhead
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Moorhead has 3 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,190 in all of them.
3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Clay County ($1,104).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 3 ZIP codes of Moorhead, beside the one for Clay County. For 2 bedrooms it is $1,190 in all of them. 3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Clay County ($1,104).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,104
Lowest: $1,190 (56560)Highest: $1,190 (56563)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Moorhead, fiscal year 2027.
56560
$840
$970
$1,190
$1,650
$1,990
56562
$840
$970
$1,190
$1,650
$1,990
56563
$840
$970
$1,190
$1,650
$1,990
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
56560 $1,190$1,650
56562 $1,190$1,650
56563 $1,190$1,650
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Moorhead 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 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Moorhead. These are the largest.
Riverview Heights800 2nd Ave N, Moorhead 56560151 homes, 148 low-income · Run by Moorhead Public Housing Agency · Average payment: $330 a month · Average wait: 4 months(218) 233-8883
Park View Terrace100 3rd St N, Moorhead 56560121 homes, 120 low-income · 1 bd: 112 · 2 bd: 8 · In service since 2017 · For older adults(218) 233-8548
Village Green Manor3501 Village Green Dr, Moorhead 5656050 low-income homes · For families(218) 287-5753
Eventide Living Center1333 7th St S, Moorhead 5656046 low-income homes · For older adults(218) 233-7508
Bright Sky Apartments (fka Churches United)3305 3rd Ave N, Moorhead 5656043 low-income homes · Studio: 18 · 1 bd: 4 · 2 bd: 9 · 3 bd: 9 · 4 bd: 3 · In service since 2018 · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
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 Clay County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Moorhead or Clay County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in Moorhead the same as in the rest of the state.
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).
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).
No legal help resource on our list is for Moorhead or Clay County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Moorhead and all of Clay 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 Moorhead?
The typical home value in Moorhead is $249,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Clay County it is $265,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Moorhead?
Typical rent in Moorhead is $1,033 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Clay County is $1,104.
What is the FHA loan limit in Moorhead?
Moorhead uses the FHA limit for all of Clay 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 Moorhead?
The typical homeowner in Moorhead pays $3,104 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.25% of the home’s value; in Clay County, the rate is 1.13%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Moorhead?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Clay County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
