The Town FilesForman, North Dakota
City in Sargent County · population 509 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,100
- Household income
- $69,712
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 47.7
Forman is a city of 509 people in Sargent County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $128,100, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks quieter than 95% of North Dakota towns, easier by car than 91% of North Dakota towns, better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns.
- #4 in The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Dakota
- #6 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in North Dakota
- #17 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in North Dakota
- #20 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in North Dakota
- #46 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #46 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
How Forman 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 Forman is worth $128,100, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $69,712, which is more affordable than 88% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $758 a month. 66.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forman | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,100 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $758 | $775 |
| Median household income | $69,712 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 66.2% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forman
| People | Forman | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.4% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.9% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in Forman
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows -0.6°F. About 23.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.0 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forman since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 1, 1973 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Sargent County since 1996
Sargent County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4760: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| February 5, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4686: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sargent County
Sargent County had 2,762 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,818 a year. Unemployment was 1.5% in 2023; in Forman itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Forman
2 public schools with 190 students, about 8.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARGENT CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 122 | 10.2 |
| SARGENT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 68 | 6.8 |
Towns near Forman
- Gwinner, ND8.8 mi · 924 people · home $172,100
- Milnor, ND13.9 mi · 624 people · home $152,500
- Oakes, ND21.7 mi · 1,798 people · home $159,700
- Britton, SD22.2 mi · 1,215 people · home $110,200
- Lisbon, ND23.3 mi · 2,204 people · home $192,100
- Lidgerwood, ND23.7 mi · 600 people · home $80,200
Forman questions
Is Forman, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forman scores better for retirees than 81% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 95%. 34.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.7).
How much does a house cost in Forman?
The median owner-occupied home in Forman is valued at $128,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,712, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $758 a month.
What is the weather like in Forman?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows -0.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.2 inches of precipitation a year and 46.0 inches of snow.
Does Forman get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 1, 1973. 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)