The Town FilesDickinson, North Dakota
City in Stark County · population 25,679 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,700
- Household income
- $82,696
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 33.3
Dickinson is a city of 25,679 people in Stark County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $263,700, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of North Dakota towns, more walkable than 91% of North Dakota towns, better transit than 76% of North Dakota towns.
How Dickinson 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 Dickinson is worth $263,700, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $82,696, which is more affordable than 20% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $957 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dickinson | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,700 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $957 | $775 |
| Median household income | $82,696 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Dickinson
| People | Dickinson | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.9% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 87.3% |
Weather in Dickinson
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 2.8°F. About 17.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.5 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 201 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dickinson since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 8, 2009 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 19, 2025.
Severe weather in Stark County since 1996
Stark County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| February 26, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1879: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 24, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1829: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Stark County
Stark County had 19,526 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,320 a year. Unemployment was 1.5% in 2023; in Dickinson itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Dickinson
10 public schools with 4,004 students, about 17.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DICKINSON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,060 | 17.7 |
| DICKINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 869 | 17.7 |
| PRAIRIE ROSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 489 | 19.6 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 390 | 20.5 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 373 | 18.7 |
| ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 260 | 17.3 |
| HEART RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 249 | 14.6 |
| P S BERG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 188 | 17.1 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM | PK-PK | 90 | 22.5 |
| SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 36 | 9.0 |
Dickinson questions
Is Dickinson, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dickinson scores better for retirees than 6% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 12%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in Dickinson?
The median owner-occupied home in Dickinson is valued at $263,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,696, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $957 a month.
What is the weather like in Dickinson?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 2.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.6 inches of precipitation a year and 38.5 inches of snow.
Does Dickinson get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dickinson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 8, 2009. 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)