The Town FilesValley City, North Dakota
City in Barnes County · population 6,575 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,200
- Household income
- $60,339
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 39.4
Valley City is a city of 6,575 people in Barnes County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $162,200, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks more walkable than 98% of North Dakota towns, hipper than 96% of North Dakota towns, more of a college town than 94% of North Dakota towns.
How Valley City 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 Valley City is worth $162,200, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $60,339, which is more affordable than 41% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 55.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley City | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,200 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $780 | $775 |
| Median household income | $60,339 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 55.5% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Valley City
| People | Valley City | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in Valley City
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows -2.3°F. About 21.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.2 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 192 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley City since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 6, 1958 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 20, 1983.
Severe weather in Barnes County since 1996
Barnes County has been included in 35 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 |
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4888: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 15, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4760: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Barnes County
Barnes County had 4,474 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,625 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Valley City itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Valley City
4 public schools with 975 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALLEY CITY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 318 | 14.5 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 285 | 14.3 |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4-6 | 213 | 14.2 |
| VALLEY CITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 159 | 14.5 |
Valley City questions
Is Valley City, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley City scores better for retirees than 52% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 14%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Valley City?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley City is valued at $162,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,339, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley City?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows -2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.2 inches of snow.
Does Valley City get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 6, 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)