The Town FilesLakota, North Dakota
City in Nelson County · population 683 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,800
- Household income
- $66,090
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 38.8
Lakota is a city of 683 people in Nelson County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $167,800, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of North Dakota towns, better for retirees than 97% of North Dakota towns, hipper than 92% of North Dakota towns.
How Lakota 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 Lakota is worth $167,800, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $66,090, which is more affordable than 53% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $597 a month. 65.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakota | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,800 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $597 | $775 |
| Median household income | $66,090 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 65.7% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Lakota
| People | Lakota | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 13.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in Lakota
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows -4.2°F. About 20.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.9 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 192 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakota since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 28, 2019 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 16, 1988.
Severe weather in Nelson County since 1996
Nelson County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4895: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| October 2, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4565: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Nelson County
Nelson County had 1,040 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,926 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Lakota itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Lakota
2 public schools with 184 students, about 8.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKOTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 117 | 11.7 |
| LAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 67 | 5.2 |
Towns near Lakota
- Devils Lake, ND24.8 mi · 7,192 people · home $164,900
Lakota questions
Is Lakota, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakota scores better for retirees than 97% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 59%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Lakota?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakota is valued at $167,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,090, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $597 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakota?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows -4.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.2 inches of precipitation a year and 39.9 inches of snow.
Does Lakota get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakota since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 28, 2019. 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)