The Town FilesWahpeton, North Dakota
City in Richland County · population 8,007 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,300
- Household income
- $62,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 34.7
Wahpeton is a city of 8,007 people in Richland County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $171,300, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of North Dakota towns, more of a college town than 90% of North Dakota towns, hipper than 89% of North Dakota towns.
How Wahpeton 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 Wahpeton is worth $171,300, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $62,750, which is more affordable than 41% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $751 a month. 45.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wahpeton | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,300 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $751 | $775 |
| Median household income | $62,750 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 45.4% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Wahpeton
| People | Wahpeton | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 87.3% |
Weather in Wahpeton
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows -0.9°F. About 24.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.6 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wahpeton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on August 7, 2010 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 9, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 14, 1998.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Richland County
Richland County had 7,970 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,185 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Wahpeton itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Wahpeton
4 public schools with 1,206 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAHPETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1-5 | 457 | 16.9 |
| WAHPETON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 371 | 16.9 |
| WAHPETON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 275 | 14.5 |
| ZIMMERMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-K | 103 | 12.9 |
Towns near Wahpeton
- Breckenridge, MN1.4 mi · 3,430 people · home $144,500
- Fergus Falls, MN25.6 mi · 14,119 people · home $194,000
- Barnesville, MN27.8 mi · 2,759 people · home $248,700
Wahpeton questions
Is Wahpeton, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wahpeton scores better for retirees than 23% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 9%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Wahpeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Wahpeton is valued at $171,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,750, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $751 a month.
What is the weather like in Wahpeton?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows -0.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49.6 inches of snow.
Does Wahpeton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wahpeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on August 7, 2010. 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)