The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in North Dakota

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 93 towns of 500–10,000 people in North Dakota. #1 is Cavalier, ND.

1. 25Mayville, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 75% of North Dakota towns

   Mayville is a city of 1,854 people in Traill County, North Dakota. It also ranks hipper than 99% of North Dakota towns and more of a college town than 99% of North Dakota towns.

   1,854 people · Traill County · median home $198,200 · income $55,735 · Jan low -4°F · 35 in snow

   Full Mayville, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Carrington, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 77% of North Dakota towns

   Carrington is a city of 2,080 people in Foster County, North Dakota. It also ranks easier by car than 99% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 85% of North Dakota towns.

   2,080 people · Foster County · median home $150,600 · income $77,171 · Jan low -1°F · 60 in snow

   Full Carrington, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23New England, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 78% of North Dakota towns

   New England is a city of 683 people in Hettinger County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for young professionals than 73% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 72% of North Dakota towns.

   683 people · Hettinger County · median home $154,200 · income $74,722 · Jan low 6°F · 44 in snow

   Full New England, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Elgin, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 79% of North Dakota towns

   Elgin is a city of 543 people in Grant County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 91% of North Dakota towns.

   543 people · Grant County · median home $103,000 · income $35,188 · Jan low 3°F · 57 in snow

   Full Elgin, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Langdon, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 80% of North Dakota towns

   Langdon is a city of 1,909 people in Cavalier County, North Dakota. It also ranks hipper than 97% of North Dakota towns and more walkable than 81% of North Dakota towns.

   1,909 people · Cavalier County · median home $135,900 · income $64,286 · Jan low -5°F · 47 in snow

   Full Langdon, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Forman, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns

   Forman is a city of 509 people in Sargent County, North Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 95% of North Dakota towns and easier by car than 91% of North Dakota towns.

   509 people · Sargent County · median home $128,100 · income $69,712 · Jan low -1°F · 46 in snow

   Full Forman, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Milnor, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns

   Milnor is a city of 624 people in Sargent County, North Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 95% of North Dakota towns and easier by car than 91% of North Dakota towns.

   624 people · Sargent County · median home $152,500 · income $76,875 · Jan low -1°F · 47 in snow

   Full Milnor, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Ellendale, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns

   Ellendale is a city of 1,125 people in Dickey County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of North Dakota towns and better transit than 100% of North Dakota towns.

   1,125 people · Dickey County · median home $116,100 · income $54,643 · Jan low 2°F · 39 in snow

   Full Ellendale, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Harvey, North Dakota

   Better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns

   Harvey is a city of 1,650 people in Wells County, North Dakota. It also ranks better transit than 97% of North Dakota towns and hipper than 93% of North Dakota towns.

   1,650 people · Wells County · median home $118,500 · income $42,697 · Jan low -2°F · 34 in snow

   Full Harvey, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Hazen, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns

    Hazen is a city of 2,281 people in Mercer County, North Dakota. It also ranks hipper than 85% of North Dakota towns and more of a college town than 81% of North Dakota towns.

    2,281 people · Mercer County · median home $190,300 · income $79,609 · Jan low 3°F · 33 in snow

    Full Hazen, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Rugby, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 86% of North Dakota towns

    Rugby is a city of 2,509 people in Pierce County, North Dakota. It also ranks easier by car than 90% of North Dakota towns and better for first-time buyers than 89% of North Dakota towns.

    2,509 people · Pierce County · median home $131,800 · income $50,365 · Jan low -4°F · 43 in snow

    Full Rugby, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Edgeley, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 87% of North Dakota towns

    Edgeley is a city of 585 people in LaMoure County, North Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 89% of North Dakota towns and better for families than 86% of North Dakota towns.

    585 people · LaMoure County · median home $110,700 · income $50,417 · Jan low 4°F · 43 in snow

    Full Edgeley, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Thompson, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 87% of North Dakota towns

    Thompson is a city of 1,101 people in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of North Dakota towns and better for young professionals than 94% of North Dakota towns.

    1,101 people · Grand Forks County · median home $281,900 · income $118,281 · Jan low -1°F · 49 in snow

    Full Thompson, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Northwood, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 89% of North Dakota towns

    Northwood is a city of 982 people in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of North Dakota towns and easier by car than 98% of North Dakota towns.

    982 people · Grand Forks County · median home $208,200 · income $78,571 · Jan low -4°F · 48 in snow

    Full Northwood, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Crosby, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 90% of North Dakota towns

    Crosby is a city of 1,065 people in Divide County, North Dakota. It also ranks more upscale than 88% of North Dakota towns and better for young professionals than 70% of North Dakota towns.

    1,065 people · Divide County · median home $115,400 · income $82,500 · Jan low 0°F · 41 in snow

    Full Crosby, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Beach, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 91% of North Dakota towns

    Beach is a city of 981 people in Golden Valley County, North Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 84% of North Dakota towns and better for families than 82% of North Dakota towns.

    981 people · Golden Valley County · median home $136,500 · income $62,560 · Jan low 6°F · 38 in snow

    Full Beach, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Hettinger, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 92% of North Dakota towns

    Hettinger is a city of 1,074 people in Adams County, North Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 71% of North Dakota towns.

    1,074 people · Adams County · median home $112,200 · income $62,750 · Jan low 5°F · 36 in snow

    Full Hettinger, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Lisbon, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 93% of North Dakota towns

    Lisbon is a city of 2,204 people in Ransom County, North Dakota. It also ranks more walkable than 95% of North Dakota towns and hipper than 95% of North Dakota towns.

    2,204 people · Ransom County · median home $192,100 · income $64,327 · Jan low 0°F · 47 in snow

    Full Lisbon, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Napoleon, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 94% of North Dakota towns

    Napoleon is a city of 749 people in Logan County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for families than 88% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 86% of North Dakota towns.

    749 people · Logan County · median home $87,700 · income $68,750 · Jan low 1°F · 53 in snow

    Full Napoleon, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Hillsboro, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 95% of North Dakota towns

    Hillsboro is a city of 1,649 people in Traill County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of North Dakota towns and more walkable than 90% of North Dakota towns.

    1,649 people · Traill County · median home $174,800 · income $81,483 · Jan low 1°F

    Full Hillsboro, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5LaMoure, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 96% of North Dakota towns

    LaMoure is a city of 764 people in LaMoure County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of North Dakota towns and easier by car than 96% of North Dakota towns.

    764 people · LaMoure County · median home $151,900 · income $71,339 · Jan low 0°F · 46 in snow

    Full LaMoure, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Lakota, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 97% of North Dakota towns

    Lakota is a city of 683 people in Nelson County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of North Dakota towns and hipper than 92% of North Dakota towns.

    683 people · Nelson County · median home $167,800 · income $66,090 · Jan low -4°F · 40 in snow

    Full Lakota, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Cooperstown, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 97% of North Dakota towns

    Cooperstown is a city of 983 people in Griggs County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of North Dakota towns and more of a college town than 80% of North Dakota towns.

    983 people · Griggs County · median home $98,600 · income $51,375 · Jan low -3°F · 42 in snow

    Full Cooperstown, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2New Rockford, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 99% of North Dakota towns

    New Rockford is a city of 1,361 people in Eddy County, North Dakota. It also ranks hipper than 98% of North Dakota towns and better for first-time buyers than 88% of North Dakota towns.

    1,361 people · Eddy County · median home $101,300 · income $43,600 · Jan low -1°F · 46 in snow

    Full New Rockford, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Cavalier, North Dakota

    Better for retirees than 100% of North Dakota towns

    Cavalier is a city of 1,246 people in Pembina County, North Dakota. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of North Dakota towns and better for cycling than 91% of North Dakota towns.

    1,246 people · Pembina County · median home $170,400 · income $60,449 · Jan low -4°F · 39 in snow

    Full Cavalier, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More North Dakota rankings

• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in North Dakota
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in North Dakota
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• The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Dakota

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