The Town FilesJamestown, North Dakota
City in Stutsman County · population 15,849 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,800
- Household income
- $56,554
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.7
Jamestown is a city of 15,849 people in Stutsman County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $199,800, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks more walkable than 96% of North Dakota towns, more vibrant than 93% of North Dakota towns, hipper than 90% of North Dakota towns.
How Jamestown 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 Jamestown is worth $199,800, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $56,554, which is more affordable than 15% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $773 a month. 54.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jamestown | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,800 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $773 | $775 |
| Median household income | $56,554 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 54.6% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Jamestown
| People | Jamestown | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 10.9 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 87.3% |
Weather in Jamestown
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 0.4°F. About 21.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.1 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 24, 1952 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 31, 1997.
Severe weather in Stutsman County since 1996
Stutsman County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4895: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Stutsman County
Stutsman County had 11,076 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,489 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Jamestown itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Jamestown
7 public schools with 2,094 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 759 | 11.7 |
| JAMESTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 476 | 12.9 |
| WILLIAM S GUSSNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 243 | 12.8 |
| ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 211 | 10.0 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 202 | 13.5 |
| LOUIS L'AMOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 105 | 10.5 |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 98 | 10.9 |
Jamestown questions
Is Jamestown, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jamestown scores better for retirees than 40% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 20%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Jamestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Jamestown is valued at $199,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,554, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $773 a month.
What is the weather like in Jamestown?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 0.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 46.1 inches of snow.
Does Jamestown get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 24, 1952. 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)