The Town FilesGrafton, North Dakota
City in Walsh County · population 4,170 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,300
- Household income
- $62,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- -5° / 82°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 43.2
Grafton is a city of 4,170 people in Walsh County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $147,300, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks more walkable than 85% of North Dakota towns, more vibrant than 79% of North Dakota towns, better transit than 79% of North Dakota towns.
How Grafton 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 Grafton is worth $147,300, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $62,679, which is more affordable than 57% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 63.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grafton | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,300 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $733 | $775 |
| Median household income | $62,679 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.8% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Grafton
| People | Grafton | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.5% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 15.6 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 87.3% |
Weather in Grafton
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows -4.6°F. About 22.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grafton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 11, 2017 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 19, 2016.
Severe weather in Walsh County since 1996
Walsh County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Walsh County
Walsh County had 4,790 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,220 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Grafton itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Grafton
3 public schools with 948 students, about 9.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 524 | 8.7 |
| GRAFTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 291 | 14.6 |
| GRAFTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 133 | 7.8 |
Towns near Grafton
- Minto, ND8.5 mi · 616 people · home $109,300
- Drayton, ND14.6 mi · 757 people · home $107,500
- Park River, ND15.5 mi · 1,424 people · home $131,900
- Stephen, MN24.4 mi · 592 people · home $87,500
- Argyle, MN27.6 mi · 544 people · home $191,800
- Cavalier, ND28.1 mi · 1,246 people · home $170,400
Grafton questions
Is Grafton, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grafton scores better for retirees than 38% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 33%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Grafton?
The median owner-occupied home in Grafton is valued at $147,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,679, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Grafton?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows -4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.9 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Grafton get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grafton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 11, 2017. 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)