Ghent’s average trip to work is 15 minutes, against 23 minutes in Minnesota’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Of the 274 Minnesota towns we compare, none has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Ghent. 24% of the land in Ghent is conserved, against 4.7% in Minnesota’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Ghent has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

376 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Grandview Township · 1 mi Minneota · 6 mi Westerheim Township · 6 mi Fairview Township · 6 mi Nordland Township · 6 mi Lynd Township · 7 mi

Getting set up

Moving to Ghent: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Ghent, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerOtter Tail Power11.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterLincoln-Pipestone Rural Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpWednesdayTown’s haulerTown site

SchoolsMarshall Public School District Minneota Public School District2 districts serve Ghent; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES

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.gov

Who runs elections hereLyon County Government CenterLyon County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015

ZIP code5623956239 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 Ghent.

Natural hazards

The FEMA risk score in Ghent is higher than in the typical Minnesota or U.S. town

The FEMA risk score in Ghent is 83 of 100. Since 2010, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Ghent.

83risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingDroughtCold waves

paid flood claims since 2010

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageGhent’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery high risk Flood claimsSince 2010 Past disasters3 federal disasters · Paid out in Ghent Get ready1.5 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Work & commute

About half of Ghent’s working residents commute to Marshall

Most working residents leave Ghent for work: only 1% work in town. Jobs based in Ghent fell to 70 in 2023, 23 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Marshall (49%), Brookings (4%) and Cottonwood (3%).

1%work in town

	Ghent	Minnesota towns	U.S. towns
Median household income	$94,000	$90,000	$80,000
Below the poverty line	7.3%	7%	9.6%

Where working residents work

In Ghent1%

Marshall49%

Brookings4%

Cottonwood3%

Minneapolis3%

8 mi

median commute distance

jobs based in Ghent

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageGhent’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here70 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work1% work in Ghent Commute times15 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 8 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Outdoors

23.7% of Ghent is conserved land

0.6 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. Only 10 of the 273 Minnesota towns we compare have a higher trail density than Ghent.

23.7%conserved

23.7%

conserved · 47 of 199 acres

0.6 mi

of trails · 2 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Legion Park	—	5
2. Vermeersch Memorial Park	0.1 mi	3

Full pageGhent’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map0.6 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk0.1 miles of trail · Vermeersch Memorial Park Conserved land23.7% conserved · 47 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Ghent?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Climate

Ghent has snowy winters and pleasant summers

Ghent has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Only 2 of the 275 Minnesota towns we compare have a higher July high than Ghent.

45″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter9–27°

Spring34–55°

Summer59–81°

Fall37–58°

Oct 3

typical first frost

May 5

typical last frost

+1.1°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageGhent’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 83°, January lows 6°Rain & snow45″ of snow a winter · 28 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.1° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Who lives here

Younger than Minnesota overall

People 65 and older are 10% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 29% of residents (22% statewide). 32% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 39% across Minnesota.

33.9median age · MN 38.8

	Ghent	Minnesota towns	U.S. towns
Aged 65 or older	9.6%	18%	18%
Median age	33.9 years	39.9 years	40.5 years

GhentMinnesotaUnited States

MNU.S.

Ages · share of residents

17%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma8%

High school28%

Some college16%

Associate’s16%

Bachelor’s25%

Graduate7%

Women and men · all residents

Somewhere between 33% and 66% women

The Census survey reached too few of Ghent’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±16.5 points. Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Ghent
	Ghent	MN	U.S.
Under 10	10.3%	12.1%	11.6%
10 to 17	11.8%	10.7%	10.3%
18 to 24	16.2%	8.8%	9.1%
25 to 34	13.2%	13%	13.7%
35 to 44	17.3%	13.5%	13.2%
45 to 54	13.4%	11.6%	12.2%
55 to 64	8.2%	12.9%	12.7%
65 to 74	7.5%	10.2%	10.2%
75 and older	2.1%	7%	7%
No diploma	7.7%	6.1%	10.4%
High school	28%	23.3%	26%
Some college	16.2%	19.5%	19.1%
Associate’s	16.2%	11.8%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	24.7%	25.6%	21.6%
Graduate	7%	13.8%	14.1%