The Town FilesElgin, North Dakota
City in Grant County · population 543 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,000
- Household income
- $35,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 49.5
Elgin is a city of 543 people in Grant County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $103,000, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 91% of North Dakota towns, better for retirees than 79% of North Dakota towns.
How Elgin 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 Elgin is worth $103,000, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $35,188, which is more affordable than 29% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $650 a month. 68.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elgin | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,000 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $650 | $775 |
| Median household income | $35,188 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.3% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.9% | — |
Who lives in Elgin
| People | Elgin | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.9% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 12.6 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.2% | 87.3% |
Weather in Elgin
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 2.9°F. About 16.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.7 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 189 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1978 about 0.1 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 12, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 13, 2010.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4888: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 15, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4760: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 661 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,022 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Elgin itself the ACS puts it at 11.1%.
Public schools in Elgin
2 public schools with 171 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELGIN-NEW LEIPZIG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 103 | 11.4 |
| ELGIN-NEW LEIPZIG HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 68 | 9.7 |
Towns near Elgin
- Mott, ND22.6 mi · 653 people · home $75,300
- Glen Ullin, ND28.3 mi · 732 people · home $109,200
Elgin questions
Is Elgin, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elgin scores better for retirees than 79% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 91%. 35.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in Elgin?
The median owner-occupied home in Elgin is valued at $103,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,188, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $650 a month.
What is the weather like in Elgin?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 2.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.8 inches of precipitation a year and 56.7 inches of snow.
Does Elgin get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 4, 1978. 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)