Located along the Red River, Moorhead attracts buyers with its modest housing prices and proximity to urban amenities. “The city is very family-friendly and generally more affordable than much of the United States,” says Bruce Johnson, Realtor at Re/Max Realty. The median sales price in Moorehead hovers around $270,000, which is about $130,000 less than the average national home price.
Settled on the Minnesota-North Dakota border in the late 1800s, Moorhead, Minnesota saw an influx of new residents – including many peoples of Nordic and Germanic descent – during westward expansion. Initially founded as a distribution center along the Red River for goods and passengers en route to the Twin Cities, as the railroad developed, Moorhead quickly became a vital stop along the transcontinental railways. The city was incorporated in 1881 and named after William G. Moorhead, director of the Northern Pacific Railway.
Today, the city is home to more than 44,000 residents and continues to act as a midway allocation hub. Despite its roots in transport, Moorhead's economy is now primarily centered around education. Here, top employers like the Moorhead Area Public School system and Minnesota State University Moorhead, together employ nearly 1,0000 people. The city is also home to plenty of green spaces like Gooseberry Mound Park and cultural highlights, like the Hjemkomst Center, which showcases the area’s Scandinavian-American history.
Development in Moorhead has increased in recent years generating a large number of new homes.
Minnesota State University has a large Campus in Moorhead.
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Entry-level homes and golf course estates
“The housing market is competitive and doing just fine,” says Johnson, who has over 38 years of experience selling in the area. “Homes here stay on the market for an average of 48 days, however, this includes pre-constructed lots, which skews the data slightly.” Most homes in Moorhead were constructed in the late 1990s and range from entry-level multi-family options to luxury estates with golf course views. Housing options consist primarily of ranch-styles and two-story Traditionals, however, multi-family twin styles and condos are also available. Price points vary depending on the size and condition of the home, but can range from the low $200,000s for a two-bedroom twin into the mid $500,000s for a newly constructed five-bedroom Traditional.
Older neighborhoods in Moorhead often have a mix of split level and ranch style homes.
Sprawling two story homes can be found near Moorhead's golf courses.
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Local parks and Norwegian Viking history
Moorhead is home to 45 city-owned greenspaces, where residents can enjoy all four seasons. Generally, Moorhead experiences mild summers and cold winters with an average of 53 inches of snowfall per year. Gooseberry Mound Park is located on the west side of the city and features a playground, cross-country skiing trails and waterfront views of the Red River. Centennial Park is located on the north side is another option, and features a jungle-gym and athletic fields for baseball or softball practices and competitions. The Moorhead Sports Center is on the east side, and is home to two ice rinks operated by the Moorhead Youth Hockey Association. It’s open year-round and is also the home arena for the Red River Valley Figure Skating Club and the Moorhead High School Hockey teams. For indoor rec options, Sunset Lanes is located off Viking Trail and boasts 24 lanes. Golfers can visit either The Meadows or the Village Green courses within Moorhead. Both are city-owned, open seasonally and feature championship 18-hole layouts. For a glimpse into the past, the Hjemkomst Center on the west side of Moorhead, hosts museum tours of local history exhibits including it’s replica of a 9th-century Norwegian Viking ship.
Centennial Park offers a playground, pavilion and 4 baseball fields.
Moorhead's Hjemkomst Center features a variety of cultural exhibits and events.
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The annual Moorhead Frostival
Each year, the city of Moorhead hosts the annual Frostival celebration to add some cheer into this community’s long cold winter season. Featuring events from the end of January through February, like the kick-off party at Lindenwood Park or the adult snowball fight at Maplewood Park, to help ward off the winter blues. Attendees can participate in a variety of outdoor activities, like winter birding, sled races and the 5K Winter Dash. “It’s a great time where residents can get outdoors and take advantage of the winter weather,” adds Johnson.
High marks at Moorhead Public Schools
Families in Moorhead are zoned for the Moorhead Public School District, which is ranked as the second-best district in Clay County and earns an overall rating of B from the review site Niche. It is home to seven elementary, two middle and three high schools. “The district has awesome schools from primary to secondary education,” says Johnson. Most students attend Moorhead High School, which is rated as one of the top 100 schools in Minnesota by U.S. News and World Report. “The city spent around $110 million on the development of Moorhead High School, which I consider the MVP of the upper Midwest,” he adds. It has been undergoing demolition and new construction phases since 2021 and is expected to be concluded by the end of 2026. Private options like Park Christian School and St. Joseph's School are also available. Those interested in pursuing higher education degrees can attend Minnesota State University Moorhead or Minnesota State Community College.
Dorothy Dodds Elementary School serves kids on grades k through 4.
Horizon Middle School East serves kids in grades 5 through 8.
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Local bites and retailers along Route 10
Most residents shop along U.S. Route 10, which connects locals to the Moorhead Center Mall and the Eastern Shopping Center. These commercial hubs are accessible by both the east and west portions of the city and feature a mix of name-brand retailers like Walmart, Target and Aldi, along with local staples like Hornbacher's, a grocery store chain. Dining options range from fast-food chains to a diverse selection of locally owned eateries throughout the city.
Moorhead residents often use Easten Shopping Center for both grocery shopping and specialty stores.
Target is a popular department store in Moorhead, offering a wide selection of goods.
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Traversing Moorhead and easy access to I-94
U.S. Route 10 runs horizontally through the heart of Moorhead, connecting residents to U.S. Route 75 and U.S. Interstate 94. Public rides are provided by the MAT (Metro Area Transit) bus, which serves the Fargo, Moorhead and Dilworth communities. When traveling farther outside the city, the Hector International Airport is 5 miles away. For healthcare, the Sanford Medical Center is 7 miles west in neighboring Fargo.
Crime
On average, Moorhead experiences lower crime rates than the state and natioanl averages. In 2023, the Moorhead Police Department reported 102 violent incidents per 100,000 individuals. Comparatively, the Minneapolis Police Department reported 182 incidents per 100,000 people during 2023.
Written By
Christian Slater
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Rowell
Video By
Stewart Taveras
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Derek Brandenburg,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Moorhead, MN sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Moorhead, MN over the last 12 months is $265,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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