East Grand Forks, MN
Living in East Grand Forks
Small-town Minnesota, right across the bridge.
What it’s like to live in East Grand Forks
Living in East Grand Forks means living in a small Minnesota town of about 8,900 people, right across the Red River from Grand Forks. It feels like a small town because it is one, and Grand Forks is right there when you need it. The trade-off is that it’s Minnesota, with Minnesota taxes.
I’m a Grand Forks guy, but my kids went to school in East Grand Forks from kindergarten through eighth grade, so I’ve made that drive across the river a few thousand times. Here’s what I tell people who are thinking about living on the east side.
East Grand Forks in a minute
Same metro as Grand Forks, different state, different feel.
Where I’d take a friend on the Minnesota side
- Blue Moose, right on the river. The spinach dip is ridiculous, and you’ll never run out of options for a cold one.
- Bernie’s, downtown. A Food Network chef runs the kitchen, and the horseshoe bar dates back to 1930, when it opened as Whitey’s Wonderbar. Local legend says Capone’s crew kept the town supplied during Prohibition. City of East Grand Forks
- Cabela’s, downtown on the river (Bass Pro Shops owns it now). Taxidermy, a fish tank, and enough camo to outfit the whole valley. It doesn’t get more Midwest than this. ND Tourism
- The Red River State Recreation Area. Trails, a campground and the river, on land where whole neighborhoods stood before 1997. More on that below.
Who East Grand Forks is for
People who want small-town life without moving far from anything.
In East Grand Forks, the high school game is the big event of the week, people know your truck, and you can be out in the country in no time. When you need a Target, a Walmart or a real restaurant night, Grand Forks is just across the bridge. Most of the bigger shopping and the sit-down restaurants are on the North Dakota side. East Grand Forks has a few great local spots and a lot of fast food.
It feels like an extension of Grand Forks, and in a lot of ways it is. Same metro, same hockey team, same river. But the moment you cross the bridge you’re in a different state, and that changes your taxes, your paperwork and your plates.
Weighing both sides of the river? I broke down the differences in Grand Forks vs. East Grand Forks, and the Grand Forks side gets its own page here: Living in Grand Forks.
Back to the topHow the town lays out
Nobody here talks about neighborhoods the way Grand Forks does. It’s a small town. But it lays out in a north side, a downtown and a south side, and the houses change as you go.
Quick pick
What matters most to you?
Tap one and I’ll point you at where I’d start looking. Tap it again to see them all.
Everyday stuff
The north side
Around the high school
- What’s there
- The high school and most of the everyday shopping: Hugo’s for groceries, O’Reilly’s, McDonald’s.
- Who it fits
- People who want the errands close and the high school down the road.
- The catch
- The streets near the stores and the high school get busy, especially when school lets out.
The history
Downtown
On the river, across from downtown Grand Forks
- What’s there
- Where all the history happened. Bernie’s, Cabela’s and the river, with downtown Grand Forks a short walk across the bridge.
- Who it fits
- People who want to be near the river and the few spots that make this town feel like itself.
- The catch
- This is the low ground the ’97 flood hit hardest. Every house near here gets a flood map check before we write an offer.
Bigger yards
The south side
Heading south from downtown
- What’s there
- Same pattern as Grand Forks: the farther south you go, the bigger the houses and the yards get.
- Who it fits
- Families who want more room inside and out.
- The catch
- More house means more money. And houses on the east side tend to sit on the market longer than in Grand Forks. That gives you room to negotiate now, and means planning for a longer sale when it’s your turn to move.
Room to breathe
Out in the country
Just past the edge of town
- What’s there
- On the east side you can be out of town and into farm country in no time. Acreages, shop space and quiet.
- Who it fits
- People who want land without a long drive into town. Tyler and Adam both went this route on the North Dakota side, and their stories are here.
- The catch
- Well and septic each need their own inspection, and you’re plowing your own driveway.
One of my first-time buyers bought in East Grand Forks on an FHA loan, and the appraisal flagged the roof in February. Here’s how we got that one closed.
Back to the topSchools
For a town this size, East Grand Forks has a lot of choice. A public district, a Catholic school and a Christian school, and two of the three go all the way through twelfth grade.
Which public school a house feeds into depends on the address. Confirm it with the district before you fall for a house.
Back to the topLiving with the river
The 1997 flood hit East Grand Forks even harder than Grand Forks. The whole town was evacuated, and almost every house took water.
Of the 2,301 homes in town, 2,274 had some damage. Between 1997 and 2000 the city bought out 507 properties. Sherlock Park, the neighborhood right next to downtown, sat low and got hit hard. The new dike left it on the wrong side, so the city bought out all of it, more than 200 homes. Environmental Law Institute
That land is now the Red River State Recreation Area: trails, ball fields, boat ramps and a big campground where Sherlock Park used to be. Some of the old houses were moved instead of torn down, a few of them out to lake country as cabins. Source
What it means for you as a buyer
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map. It’s free and takes a minute.
- Ask about flood insurance, even outside the high-risk zone. Regular homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding.
- Ask what happened to the house in ’97. Almost every older house in town has a flood story. I’ll help you find out what was done.
It’s still Minnesota
This is the catch. East Grand Forks feels like an extension of Grand Forks, but it’s Minnesota, and that shows up in your wallet.
Income tax follows where you live
North Dakota and Minnesota have a reciprocity deal. If you live in East Grand Forks and work in Grand Forks, you pay Minnesota income tax, not North Dakota. ND Tax Minnesota’s rates run from 5.35% to 9.85% in 2026. MN Revenue In North Dakota, a married couple pays 0% on the first $80,975 of taxable income. ND Tax
The rest of the Minnesota paperwork
- Driver’s license. New Minnesota residents get 60 days to switch over. Minnesota law
- Utilities. The city’s Water and Light department runs water and electric. EGF Water and Light
- No North Dakota Primary Residence Credit. That $1,600 property tax break is a North Dakota thing. Minnesota has its own programs, so ask your tax pro what applies to you.
I’m a REALTOR, not a tax pro. Run your own numbers with one before you pick a side of the river.
Back to the topQuestions people ask me about living in East Grand Forks
Is East Grand Forks a good place to live?
If you want small-town life with a bigger city across the bridge, yes. It’s quiet, the schools give you real choice, and the country is minutes away. If you want restaurants and shopping out your front door, or you want North Dakota’s lower income tax, Grand Forks is probably the better fit.
If I live in East Grand Forks and work in Grand Forks, which state do I pay income tax to?
Minnesota. Under the reciprocity agreement between the two states, your income tax follows where you live, not where you work. ND Tax
What schools are in East Grand Forks?
East Grand Forks Public Schools (New Heights and South Point elementary schools, Central Middle School and the Senior High), Sacred Heart (Catholic, preschool through 12) and Riverside Christian (pre-K through 12). See the schools section above.
Does East Grand Forks still flood?
After 1997 the town rebuilt its flood protection and turned the lowest ground into the Red River State Recreation Area. Specific houses still need checking. Look up any address on FEMA’s flood map and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
What is there to do in East Grand Forks?
Blue Moose on the river, Bernie’s downtown, Cabela’s, and the trails and campground at the Red River State Recreation Area. And everything in Grand Forks is a few minutes across the bridge, Hawks hockey included.
Do you sell homes in East Grand Forks if you’re a North Dakota agent?
Yes. I work both sides of the river, and I’ve closed deals in East Grand Forks. My FHA roof story is one of them.
Thinking about East Grand Forks?
Let’s figure out which side of the river fits you.
Tell me what you need and I’ll tell you where I’d start looking, on either side of the bridge. Call or text me at 701.314.2202, or start with one of my free guides.
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“About a week ago, I finalized the process of buying my first home—a single family house in Crookston, MN. Working with Josh as my realtor was the saving grace in what I feared would be an overwhelming process. Josh was informed and professional while also being emotionally available to help me through this new challenge. Every snag we hit he was able to help solve, and now I am a proud homeowner.”
Delenn G. – Relocated from California, bought in Crookston · Google
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“Incredibly friendly and helpful during the entire process of our interstate move”
Tyler G. – Relocated from Kentucky, acreage outside Niagara · Google
Not quite what you needed?
The six communities I actually sell in are broken down one by one. If you’ve already picked the town and you’re ready to look, the buyer guide is the next one. And here’s who you’d be working with.