The Town FilesGrand Forks, North Dakota
City in Grand Forks County · population 59,166 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,900
- Household income
- $63,627
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 29.6
Grand Forks is a city of 59,166 people in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $249,900, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks more vibrant than 100% of North Dakota towns, more walkable than 99% of North Dakota towns, better transit than 99% of North Dakota towns.
How Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks is worth $249,900, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $63,627, which is more affordable than 4% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $980 a month. 46.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Forks | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,900 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $980 | $775 |
| Median household income | $63,627 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 46.4% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Grand Forks
| People | Grand Forks | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.0% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 87.3% |
Weather in Grand Forks
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -1.3°F. About 22.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.7 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Forks since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 11, 1958 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 89 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 16, 1987.
Severe weather in Grand Forks County since 1996
Grand Forks County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4895: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| October 2, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4565: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grand Forks County
Grand Forks County had 40,704 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,530 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Grand Forks itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Grand Forks
17 public schools with 7,278 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RED RIVER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,171 | 13.5 |
| CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,091 | 13.5 |
| DISCOVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 571 | 12.7 |
| SCHROEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 562 | 11.0 |
| SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 552 | 10.4 |
| VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 503 | 9.5 |
| J NELSON KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 494 | 13.4 |
| CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 433 | 12.4 |
| LAKE AGASSIZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 384 | 11.3 |
| BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 339 | 11.3 |
| VIKING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 294 | 10.9 |
| PHOENIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 228 | 8.8 |
Towns near Grand Forks
- East Grand Forks, MN3.5 mi · 9,176 people · home $255,600
- Crookston, MN24.4 mi · 7,482 people · home $185,600
Grand Forks questions
Is Grand Forks, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grand Forks scores better for retirees than 12% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 2%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.6).
How much does a house cost in Grand Forks?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Forks is valued at $249,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,627, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $980 a month.
What is the weather like in Grand Forks?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -1.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.8 inches of precipitation a year and 48.7 inches of snow.
Does Grand Forks get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Forks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 11, 1958. 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)