The Town FilesNapoleon, North Dakota
City in Logan County · population 749 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,700
- Household income
- $68,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 41.8
Napoleon is a city of 749 people in Logan County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $87,700, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of North Dakota towns, better for families than 88% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 86% of North Dakota towns.
- #1 in The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Dakota
- #2 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in North Dakota
- #7 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #7 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
- #7 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in North Dakota
- #13 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in North Dakota
How Napoleon 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 Napoleon is worth $87,700, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $68,750, which is more affordable than 99% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $833 a month. 80.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Napoleon | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,700 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $833 | $775 |
| Median household income | $68,750 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.7% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Napoleon
| People | Napoleon | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 10.4 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in Napoleon
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 0.5°F. About 20.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.2 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 188 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Napoleon since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 10, 2011 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 26, 2007.
Severe weather in Logan County since 1996
Logan County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Logan County
Logan County had 638 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,546 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Napoleon itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Napoleon
2 public schools with 248 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAPOLEON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 138 | 15.3 |
| NAPOLEON HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 110 | 15.7 |
Towns near Napoleon
- Wishek, ND20.0 mi · 864 people · home $100,600
- Steele, ND25.4 mi · 665 people · home $161,000
- Linton, ND27.5 mi · 1,071 people · home $97,800
Napoleon questions
Is Napoleon, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Napoleon scores better for retirees than 94% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 86%. 30.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Napoleon?
The median owner-occupied home in Napoleon is valued at $87,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,750, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $833 a month.
What is the weather like in Napoleon?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 0.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.7 inches of precipitation a year and 53.2 inches of snow.
Does Napoleon get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Napoleon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 10, 2011. 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)