Thief River Falls 74 Excellent
Thief River Falls Livability #219 ranked city in Minnesota#4,606 ranked city in the USARanks better than 84% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Thief River Falls

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

What's it like Living in Thief River Falls?

Thief River Falls, Minnesota is a small-sized city with a population of 9,032 people. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (94% White). Given that fact, Thief River Falls could be considered less diverse than other cities. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Thief River Falls offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 12 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Thief River Falls could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Minnesota if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Thief River Falls and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Thief River Falls to Minnesota and the national average.

With a livability score of 74/100, Thief River Falls is ranked #3,996 in the United States and #183 in Minnesota. For each of the livability categories, we see that Thief River Falls ranks very well for crime (A), cost of living (A+), education (B) and housing (A+). There is at least one category that did not score well in Thief River Falls. The following was graded with a concerning score: amenities (F).

Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Thief River Falls has a violent crime rate of 91 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.

The Thief River Falls unemployment rate of 1.9% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Thief River Falls can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Thief River Falls real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Thief River Falls. The median home price for Thief River Falls homes is $252,560, which is 25.5% lower than the Minnesota average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Thief River Falls, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.3, which is 10.8% lower than the Minnesota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Thief River Falls

See all the best places to live around Thief River Falls

How Do You Rate The Livability In Thief River Falls?

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Compare Thief River Falls, MN Livability

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      Thief River Falls transportation information

      Statistic Thief River Falls Minnesota National
      Average one way commute12min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work85.7%78.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.2%8.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.8%3.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.6%2.8%2.8%
      Working from home2.4%5.3%4.6%
      Source: The Thief River Falls, MN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.