The Town FilesCenter, North Dakota
City in Oliver County · population 588 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,100
- Household income
- $77,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 36.8
Center is a city of 588 people in Oliver County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $204,100, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of North Dakota towns, better for families than 87% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 76% of North Dakota towns.
How Center 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 Center is worth $204,100, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $77,083, which is more affordable than 48% of North Dakota towns. 97.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Center | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,100 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | — | $775 |
| Median household income | $77,083 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 97.2% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Center
| People | Center | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 87.3% |
Weather in Center
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 4.6°F. About 18.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.7 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 192 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 18, 1990 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 27, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 27, 2025.
Severe weather in Oliver County since 1996
Oliver County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4934: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4888: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Oliver County
Oliver County had 706 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,626 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Center itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Center
2 public schools with 270 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTER-STANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 159 | 14.5 |
| CENTER-STANTON HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 111 | 10.1 |
Towns near Center
- Washburn, ND17.7 mi · 1,300 people · home $238,200
- New Salem, ND19.6 mi · 973 people · home $187,000
- Hazen, ND19.9 mi · 2,281 people · home $190,300
- Wilton, ND24.3 mi · 718 people · home $215,900
- Beulah, ND24.6 mi · 3,058 people · home $203,300
- Underwood, ND24.7 mi · 784 people · home $191,200
- Mandan, ND27.6 mi · 24,206 people · home $259,800
Center questions
Is Center, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Center scores better for retirees than 55% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 76%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Center is valued at $204,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,083, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Center?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.9 inches of precipitation a year and 42.7 inches of snow.
Does Center get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 18, 1990. 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)