The Town FilesHillsboro, North Dakota
City in Traill County · population 1,649 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,800
- Household income
- $81,483
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 81°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 40.3
Hillsboro is a city of 1,649 people in Traill County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $174,800, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of North Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of North Dakota towns, more walkable than 90% of North Dakota towns.
How Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro is worth $174,800, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $81,483, which is more affordable than 76% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $639 a month. 73.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsboro | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,800 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $639 | $775 |
| Median household income | $81,483 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.6% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Hillsboro
| People | Hillsboro | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.4% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 15.2 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 87.3% |
Weather in Hillsboro
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 1.0°F. About 22.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 27, 2016 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 21, 1987.
Severe weather in Traill County since 1996
Traill County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| 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 |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Traill County
Traill County had 3,562 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,753 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Hillsboro itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Hillsboro
2 public schools with 489 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HILLSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 257 | 10.7 |
| HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 232 | 12.2 |
Towns near Hillsboro
- Halstad, MN11.7 mi · 564 people · home $128,600
- Mayville, ND13.9 mi · 1,854 people · home $198,200
- Portland, ND15.8 mi · 578 people · home $194,000
- Hatton, ND24.5 mi · 712 people · home $140,800
- Thompson, ND25.7 mi · 1,101 people · home $281,900
- Ada, MN26.6 mi · 1,740 people · home $137,800
Hillsboro questions
Is Hillsboro, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsboro scores better for retirees than 95% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 47%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Hillsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsboro is valued at $174,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,483, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $639 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsboro?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 1.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.3 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Hillsboro get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 27, 2016. 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)