The Town FilesBeach, North Dakota
City in Golden Valley County · population 981 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,500
- Household income
- $62,560
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 45.2
Beach is a city of 981 people in Golden Valley County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $136,500, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 84% of North Dakota towns, better for families than 82% of North Dakota towns.
How Beach 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 Beach is worth $136,500, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $62,560, which is more affordable than 69% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $815 a month. 77.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Beach | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,500 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $815 | $775 |
| Median household income | $62,560 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 77.1% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.0% | — |
Who lives in Beach
| People | Beach | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.5% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 87.3% |
Weather in Beach
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 6.2°F. About 16.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.0 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beach since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 19, 1952 about 6.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 8, 2002.
Severe weather in Golden Valley County since 1996
Golden Valley County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| February 26, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1879: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Golden Valley County
Golden Valley County had 641 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,707 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Beach itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Beach
2 public schools with 286 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 144 | 12.0 |
| BEACH HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 142 | 10.1 |
Beach questions
Is Beach, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Beach scores better for retirees than 91% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 84%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Beach is valued at $136,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,560, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $815 a month.
What is the weather like in Beach?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 6.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.5 inches of precipitation a year and 38.0 inches of snow.
Does Beach get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 19, 1952. 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)