Real Estate Investing in Thief River Falls, Minnesota (56701)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Pennington County • Population: 12,814 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56701 (Thief River Falls, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Declining values: -1.0% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.6% in the last year.

What’s happening in Thief River Falls, MN (56701)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $193,203
Avg Monthly Rent $1,260
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,781
% Renters 28.7%

Market Analysis: 56701 Thief River Falls

The 56701 ZIP in Thief River Falls, MN is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $193K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $1,260/mo on a $193K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 56701 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 56701's metrics run below Pennington County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The demographic picture in 56701 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Thief River Falls averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Thief River Falls's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 56701. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Thief River Falls:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,260/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$229K$209K$189K$170K$150K$130KJun 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,278$1,227$1,176$1,124$1,073$1,022Feb 2026Apr 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 56701 Compare?

Metric 56701 Thief River Falls Minnesota
Home Value $193,203 $193,203 $340,597
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,260 $1,260 -
Cap Rate 5.1% 5.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 56701? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 56701 (Thief River Falls, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
-1.0%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $193,203
Monthly Rent $1,260
Price-to-Rent 12.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.8%
Cap Rate 5.1%
5-Year IRR 4.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR -3.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.0% ▼
10-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
6.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56701

Population: 12,814

💰 Median Household Income
$71,781
This area
$71,781
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.7%
This area
28.7%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.7 years
This area
39.7 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.8%
This area
6.8%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.5%
Other/Mixed 6.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Black/African American 1.3%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 56701

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$15,894 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

CHALLENGER ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
781 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,894 Per Student
B+ Above Average

FRANKLIN MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,894 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LINCOLN SENIOR HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
565 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,894 Per Student
C+ Average

NORTHWEST AREA LEARNING CENTER

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
29 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,894 Per Student
C Below Average

Summer NW Area Learning Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$15,894 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 1,773 Off-Campus Students
C
Northland Community and Technical College
2,477 students · 1.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,773 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Thief River Falls, MN?

The typical rental in Thief River Falls, MN commands about $1,260/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $193K purchase basis.

Is the tenant base reliable in Thief River Falls, MN?

Tenant demand in Thief River Falls, MN is solid. The local workforce $1,260/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is real estate in Thief River Falls, MN a good investment right now?

Thief River Falls, MN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $193K and rents near $1,260/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is MN a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Thief River Falls, MN is balanced. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How do experienced investors play Thief River Falls, MN?

The best-fit strategy in Thief River Falls, MN is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

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