The Town FilesKenmare, North Dakota
City in Ward County · population 961 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,500
- Household income
- $64,077
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 56.9
Kenmare is a city of 961 people in Ward County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $115,500, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks hipper than 83% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 82% of North Dakota towns, better transit than 79% of North Dakota towns.
How Kenmare 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 Kenmare is worth $115,500, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $64,077, which is more affordable than 88% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $768 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kenmare | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,500 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $768 | $775 |
| Median household income | $64,077 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kenmare
| People | Kenmare | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.9 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.3% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 10.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 87.3% |
Weather in Kenmare
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 0.4°F. About 19.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.7 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenmare since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 5, 1955 about 2.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 7, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 6, 2004.
Severe weather in Ward County since 1996
Ward County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| August 19, 2014 | Flood | DR-4190: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 12, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4128: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ward County
Ward County had 31,358 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,491 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Kenmare itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Kenmare
2 public schools with 275 students, about 7.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENMARE HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 153 | 7.7 |
| KENMARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 122 | 7.2 |
Towns near Kenmare
- Mohall, ND26.1 mi · 694 people · home $168,500
- Stanley, ND28.9 mi · 2,321 people · home $237,900
Kenmare questions
Is Kenmare, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kenmare scores better for retirees than 50% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 82%. 35.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.9).
How much does a house cost in Kenmare?
The median owner-occupied home in Kenmare is valued at $115,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,077, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $768 a month.
What is the weather like in Kenmare?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 0.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.5 inches of precipitation a year and 49.7 inches of snow.
Does Kenmare get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenmare since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 5, 1955. 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)