The Town FilesDevils Lake, North Dakota
City in Ramsey County · population 7,192 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,900
- Household income
- $43,220
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 79°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 37.3
Devils Lake is a city of 7,192 people in Ramsey County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $164,900, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better transit than 91% of North Dakota towns, more vibrant than 90% of North Dakota towns, more walkable than 88% of North Dakota towns.
How Devils Lake ranks
Percentile among North Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Devils Lake is worth $164,900, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $43,220, which is more affordable than 9% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 39.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Devils Lake | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,900 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $711 | $775 |
| Median household income | $43,220 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 39.4% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Devils Lake
| People | Devils Lake | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 12.1 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.3% | 87.3% |
Weather in Devils Lake
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows -1.8°F. About 20.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Devils Lake since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 12, 1976 about 3.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 5, 1966.
Severe weather in Ramsey County since 1996
Ramsey County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4128: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4118: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ramsey County
Ramsey County had 5,587 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,822 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Devils Lake itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Devils Lake
6 public schools with 1,782 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEVILS LAKE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 539 | 16.3 |
| CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 531 | 12.3 |
| SWEETWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1-2 | 284 | 14.9 |
| PRAIRIE VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-4 | 260 | 13.7 |
| MINNIE H KINDERGARTEN CENTER | PK-K | 151 | 11.6 |
| SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PK-8 | PK-8 | 17 | 3.4 |
Devils Lake questions
Is Devils Lake, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Devils Lake scores better for retirees than 19% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 16%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Devils Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Devils Lake is valued at $164,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,220, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Devils Lake?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows -1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.0 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Devils Lake get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Devils Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 12, 1976. The typical North Dakota town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)