The Town FilesWatford City, North Dakota
City in McKenzie County · population 6,207 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $408,500
- Household income
- $102,260
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 28.8
Watford City is a city of 6,207 people in McKenzie County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $408,500, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of North Dakota towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of North Dakota towns, better for young professionals than 86% of North Dakota towns.
How Watford 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 Watford City is worth $408,500, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $102,260, which is more affordable than 3% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,336 a month. 29.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watford City | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $408,500 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $1,336 | $775 |
| Median household income | $102,260 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 29.3% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 2013 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.9% | — |
Who lives in Watford City
| People | Watford City | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 87.3% |
Weather in Watford City
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.1°F. About 15.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.4 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watford City since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 9, 2018 about 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 38 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 13, 2013.
Severe weather in McKenzie County since 1996
McKenzie County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 24, 2024 | Fire | DR-4852: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| October 6, 2024 | Fire | FM-5540: Bear Den Fire |
| October 6, 2024 | Fire | FM-5541: Elk Horn Fire |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4613: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McKenzie County
McKenzie County had 11,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,997 a year. Unemployment was 1.3% in 2023; in Watford City itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Watford City
5 public schools with 2,105 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOX HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 608 | 16.4 |
| WATFORD CITY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 511 | 12.2 |
| BADLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 500 | 16.7 |
| WATFORD CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 466 | 12.9 |
| WOLVES CENTER ACADEMY | 9-12 | 20 | 20.0 |
Watford City questions
Is Watford City, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watford City scores better for retirees than 4% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 4%. 5.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.8).
How much does a house cost in Watford City?
The median owner-occupied home in Watford City is valued at $408,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,260, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,336 a month.
What is the weather like in Watford City?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 5.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.7 inches of precipitation a year and 50.4 inches of snow.
Does Watford City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watford City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 9, 2018. 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)