Erskine, Minnesota Northern sculpture, 2017
Erskine’s story
137 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2005.
- 1889Erskine is settled
ErskineMN
A town of 384, settled in 1889.
Population
384
2025 Census estimate · −4.7% since 2020
Typical home
$309K
+8.5% in a year
Household income
$45K
median
Median age
40.5
years
Jobs based here
152
Balanced
Is Erskine a good place to live?
Only 3 of the 274 Minnesota towns we compare have a lower middle household income than Erskine. Erskine has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
384 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Knute TownshipErskine
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Erskine: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Erskine, and how to reach them.
PowerOtter Tail Power11.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterErskine water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Erskine’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePolk County Taxpayer Service CenterPolk County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5653556535 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Erskine.
Climate
The climate in Erskine brings snowy winters and pleasant summers
In Erskine, the midsummer high is 79°F.
50″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter1–20°
Spring29–51°
Summer55–78°
Fall33–53°
Sep 30
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Erskine has 1.3 jobs for every working resident, and 148 people commute in
In Erskine, 3.3% of working residents work locally, against 9.8% in Minnesota’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. The top destinations are Thief River Falls (15%), Crookston (12%) and Knute Township (11%). For half of commuters, work is under 28 miles away.
3%work in town
| Erskine | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.3% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 7% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Erskine3%
Thief River Falls15%
Crookston12%
Knute Township11%
Fosston6%
28 mi
median commute distance
152
jobs based in Erskine
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Erskine is inland flooding, at a low overall level
FEMA expects less storm and flood damage in Erskine than in 62% of U.S. communities. Households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2009. Expected losses in Erskine break down as 36% from inland flooding and 28% from cold waves.
38risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesDrought
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Erskine is
For adults in Erskine, the share who report frequent physical distress is 14%. CDC measures, 32 in all: Erskine beats Minnesota on 2 and trails on 8. In Erskine, 39% of adults have obesity, above both Minnesota’s towns (35%) and U.S. towns (35%). Two figures for adults here: 26% have been diagnosed with depression, 34% sleep under 7 hours.
| Erskine | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 25% | 23% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 30% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
2 better22 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Erskine | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 74.5% | 68.7% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.3% | 76.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 12.8% | 8.9% |
Essentia Health Fosston
14.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Zillow puts the typical Erskine home at about $309K
Erskine’s midpoint rent is $825 a month. Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 8.5% in value. 52% of Erskine households own their home.
$309KZillow home value
| Erskine | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 52% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $825 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Erskine$309K
Minnesota$349K
+8.5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Erskine
16pages on Erskine
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Erskine; the nearest are
White Earth Tribal and Community CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Mahnomen24.1 mi$5,490 tuitionUniversity of Minnesota-CrookstonUniversity or college · Public · Crookston29 mi$13,288 in-state tuitionNorthland Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Thief River Falls32.6 mi$6,289 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Erskine residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
About Erskine
City in Minnesota, United States
Erskine is a city in Polk County, Minnesota. The population was 403 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Greater Grand Forks region.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,191 ft
- ZIP code
- 56535
- Area code
- 218
Questions about Erskine
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Erskine, MN a good place to live?
Erskine has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.