Fosston1902, 1902
Fosston’s story
143 years in pictures
Census counts: 207 in 1890, 1,434 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 1902 and 2 maps from 1969 on.
- 1883Fosston is settled
FosstonMN
A town of 1,383, settled in 1883. Public schools that outperform most of Minnesota.
Population
1,383
2025 Census estimate · −3.8% since 2020
Typical home
$228K
+6.5% in a year
Household income
$53K
median
Median age
41.6
years
Jobs based here
705
Balanced
Is Fosston a good place to live?
The best of Fosston’s subject grades are an A for schools and an A− for walkability and civic life; the weakest is a D− for incomes. 26% of residents live below the poverty line in Fosston, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 7% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. On incomes, just 2 of Minnesota’s 574 towns do worse. Fosston has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Fosston stand out
Where Fosston beats most towns.
FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Magelssen Elementary | PK–6 | 340 |
| Fosston Secondary | 7–12 | 256 |
SchoolsA
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
10.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Fosston13.8
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical MN town4.2
Civic lifeA−
3.3 times the nonprofits per person
than the typical Minnesota town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Small town
1,383 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Rosebud TownshipBrandsvold TownshipFosston
How Fosston grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Fosston is from typical.
Jobs & income$53K median household incomeD−Open →SchoolsAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 10.3% of households have no carA−Open →SafetyMore crime per resident than 79% of U.S. townsC−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 32% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →HealthLess healthy than 64% of U.S. towns; Essentia Health Fosston 1.1 miles awayC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trailsBOpen →History2 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life13.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.6; 21% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Fosston: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Fosston, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of FosstonEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterFosston 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 Fosston’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 code5654256542 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 Fosston.
SchoolsA
Fosston’s public schools outperform 91% of Minnesota districts
Its public schools are run by the Fosston Public School District. Its two schools are below.
91%of MN districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magelssen ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 340 | A− |
| Fosston SecondaryLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 256 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
SafetyC−
Compared with most of Minnesota and the rest of the country, violent crime in Fosston is higher
At 6.6 per 1,000 residents, Fosston’s violent crime rate is against 1.1 in Minnesota’s towns and 1.6 across U.S. towns. Fosston’s property crime rate is 19 per 1,000 residents. Fosston reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 79% report less.
21%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Fosston | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 6.6 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 19 per 1,000 residents | 8.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Fosston6.6
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Fosston19
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
21st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
9
violent crimes reported in 2025
26
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade A−
The typical home in Fosston is valued at about $228K
The typical Fosston home is worth about $228,000, up 6.5% in a year, 35% below the Minnesota typical home. 55% of Fosston households own their home.
$228KZillow home value
| Fosston | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 55% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $790 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Fosston$228K
Minnesota$349K
+6.5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Fosston faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 68% of U.S. communities.
32risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesDrought
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Fosston
Fosston has cold winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Fosston is 79°F.
79°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter1–20°
Spring29–51°
Summer54–77°
Fall33–52°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 15
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
79°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC+
More of Fosston’s adults have diabetes than in the typical Minnesota or U.S. town
14% of adults have diabetes in Fosston. Only 5 of the 272 Minnesota towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Fosston. 39% of adults have obesity in Fosston.
36%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Fosston | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 23% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 31% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 12% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better20 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Fosston | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.7% | 76.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 16.9% | 8.9% |
Essentia Health Fosston
1.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Fosston has 1.3 jobs for every working resident, and 564 people commute in
About one in 4 of Fosston’s working residents works in town. Since 2013, Fosston has lost 341 jobs, to 705 in 2023. The top destinations are Crookston (9%), Thief River Falls (6%) and Bagley (5%).
27%work in town
| Fosston | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 15 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 27% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Median household income | $53,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Fosston27%
Crookston9%
Thief River Falls6%
Bagley5%
Bemidji4%
23 mi
median commute distance
705
jobs based in Fosston
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsB
Fosston has set aside 0% of its land for conservation
1.5 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 1,368 acres
1.5 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Melland Baseball Park | 0.6 mi | 14 |
| 2. Larson Park | — | 7 |
| 3. Melland Memorial Park | 0.2 mi | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fosston
20pages on Fosston
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 91% of MN districts · 2 schoolsSafetyC−6.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC+Better than MN on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$228K typical home · up 6.5% in a yearWork & commuteD−$53K median household income · 705 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 32% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Fosston; the nearest are
White Earth Tribal and Community CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Mahnomen20.7 mi$5,490 tuitionRed Lake Nation CollegeCommunity college · Public · Red Lake40.1 mi$6,640 in-state tuitionBemidji State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Bemidji41.6 mi$10,237 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Fosston residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
About Fosston
City in Minnesota, United States
Fosston is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Greater Grand Forks region. The population was 1,434 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1889
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,293 ft
- ZIP code
- 56542
- Area code
- 218
Questions about Fosston
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Fosston, MN a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Minnesota.
Is Fosston, MN expensive?
Not for the area. That is 3.3 years of the area's median household income ($69,836 across the Grand Forks, ND-MN metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.
What is Fosston, MN known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Lily Hanson and Shirley Winsley.