The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable 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, scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Napoleon, ND.

Numbers match the ranking.

21Underwood, North Dakota

Retirement: 64th percentile · Quiet: 79th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 69th percentile

Underwood is a city of 784 people in McLean County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $191,200 against household income of $85,577; January lows average 1°F.

784 people · McLean County · median home $191,200 · income $85,577 · Jan low 1°F · 39 in snow

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

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
20Kenmare, North Dakota

Retirement: 50th percentile · Quiet: 82nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 88th percentile

Kenmare is a city of 961 people in Ward County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $115,500 against household income of $64,077; January lows average 0°F.

961 people · Ward County · median home $115,500 · income $64,077 · Jan low 0°F · 50 in snow

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

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
19Hatton, North Dakota

Retirement: 69th percentile · Quiet: 65th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 88th percentile

Hatton is a city of 712 people in Traill County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $140,800 against household income of $76,111; January lows average -4°F.

712 people · Traill County · median home $140,800 · income $76,111 · Jan low -4°F · 48 in snow

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

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
18New England, North Dakota

Retirement: 78th percentile · Quiet: 72nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 76th percentile

New England is a city of 683 people in Hettinger County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $154,200 against household income of $74,722; January lows average 6°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
17Pembina, North Dakota

Retirement: 61st percentile · Quiet: 70th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 99th percentile

Pembina is a city of 512 people in Pembina County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $136,200 against household income of $101,875; January lows average -5°F.

512 people · Pembina County · median home $136,200 · income $101,875 · Jan low -5°F · 39 in snow

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

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
16Turtle Lake, North Dakota

Retirement: 57th percentile · Quiet: 86th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 88th percentile

Turtle Lake is a city of 542 people in McLean County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $120,100 against household income of $67,639; January lows average 1°F.

542 people · McLean County · median home $120,100 · income $67,639 · Jan low 1°F · 44 in snow

Full Turtle Lake, North Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
15New Rockford, North Dakota

Retirement: 99th percentile · Quiet: 78th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 62nd percentile

New Rockford is a city of 1,361 people in Eddy County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $101,300 against household income of $43,600; January lows average -1°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
14Carrington, North Dakota

Retirement: 77th percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 79th percentile

Carrington is a city of 2,080 people in Foster County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $150,600 against household income of $77,171; January lows average -1°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
13Crosby, North Dakota

Retirement: 90th percentile · Quiet: 57th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 96th percentile

Crosby is a city of 1,065 people in Divide County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $115,400 against household income of $82,500; January lows average 0°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
12Beach, North Dakota

Retirement: 91st percentile · Quiet: 84th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 69th percentile

Beach is a city of 981 people in Golden Valley County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $136,500 against household income of $62,560; January lows average 6°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
11Edgeley, North Dakota

Retirement: 87th percentile · Quiet: 89th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 69th percentile

Edgeley is a city of 585 people in LaMoure County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $110,700 against household income of $50,417; January lows average 4°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
10Cooperstown, North Dakota

Retirement: 97th percentile · Quiet: 66th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 82nd percentile

Cooperstown is a city of 983 people in Griggs County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $98,600 against household income of $51,375; January lows average -3°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
9Hettinger, North Dakota

Retirement: 92nd percentile · Quiet: 71st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 88th percentile

Hettinger is a city of 1,074 people in Adams County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $112,200 against household income of $62,750; January lows average 5°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
8Mott, North Dakota

Retirement: 72nd percentile · Quiet: 91st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 89th percentile

Mott is a city of 653 people in Hettinger County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $75,300 against household income of $44,762; January lows average 4°F.

653 people · Hettinger County · median home $75,300 · income $44,762 · Jan low 4°F · 57 in snow

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

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
7Milnor, North Dakota

Retirement: 81st percentile · Quiet: 95th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 79th percentile

Milnor is a city of 624 people in Sargent County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $152,500 against household income of $76,875; January lows average -1°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
6Drayton, North Dakota

Retirement: 68th percentile · Quiet: 100th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 93rd percentile

Drayton is a city of 757 people in Pembina County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $107,500 against household income of $70,250; January lows average -4°F.

757 people · Pembina County · median home $107,500 · income $70,250 · Jan low -4°F · 44 in snow

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

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
5LaMoure, North Dakota

Retirement: 96th percentile · Quiet: 90th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 76th percentile

LaMoure is a city of 764 people in LaMoure County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $151,900 against household income of $71,339; January lows average 0°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
4Forman, North Dakota

Retirement: 81st percentile · Quiet: 95th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 88th percentile

Forman is a city of 509 people in Sargent County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $128,100 against household income of $69,712; January lows average -1°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
3Wishek, North Dakota

Retirement: 73rd percentile · Quiet: 97th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 96th percentile

Wishek is a city of 864 people in McIntosh County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $100,600 against household income of $69,904; January lows average 1°F.

864 people · McIntosh County · median home $100,600 · income $69,904 · Jan low 1°F · 47 in snow

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

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
2Ashley, North Dakota

Retirement: 73rd percentile · Quiet: 97th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 96th percentile

Ashley is a city of 613 people in McIntosh County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $58,900 against household income of $42,540; January lows average 1°F.

613 people · McIntosh County · median home $58,900 · income $42,540 · Jan low 1°F · 42 in snow

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

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.
1Napoleon, North Dakota

Retirement: 94th percentile · Quiet: 86th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 99th percentile

Napoleon is a city of 749 people in Logan County, North Dakota. Homes have a median value of $87,700 against household income of $68,750; January lows average 1°F.

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 →

Percentile vs North Dakota towns on each part of this ranking.

Price vs ranking

Orange squares are the 21 towns on this list; green dots are other towns on The Town Files in North Dakota.

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Methodology. We ranked 93 towns of 500–10,000 people in North Dakota (2020 Census population). Lifestyle measures are The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025), shown as percentiles. The combined score is the average of the percentiles shown for each town; a town must be above the middle on every one. Only towns better than 60% of their peers on this measure qualify, so lists can be shorter than 25. Sources:

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)

The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Dakota

21Underwood, North Dakota

20Kenmare, North Dakota

19Hatton, North Dakota

18New England, North Dakota

17Pembina, North Dakota

16Turtle Lake, North Dakota

15New Rockford, North Dakota

14Carrington, North Dakota

13Crosby, North Dakota

12Beach, North Dakota

11Edgeley, North Dakota

10Cooperstown, North Dakota

9Hettinger, North Dakota

8Mott, North Dakota

7Milnor, North Dakota

6Drayton, North Dakota

5LaMoure, North Dakota

4Forman, North Dakota

3Wishek, North Dakota

2Ashley, North Dakota

1Napoleon, North Dakota

Price vs ranking

More North Dakota rankings

Same ranking, other places