The Town FilesNew Rockford, North Dakota
City in Eddy County · population 1,361 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $101,300
- Household income
- $43,600
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 46.1
New Rockford is a city of 1,361 people in Eddy County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $101,300, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of North Dakota towns, hipper than 98% of North Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of North Dakota towns.
How New Rockford 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 New Rockford is worth $101,300, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $43,600, which is more affordable than 62% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $587 a month. 64.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Rockford | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,300 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $587 | $775 |
| Median household income | $43,600 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 64.3% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in New Rockford
| People | New Rockford | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.6% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 87.3% |
Weather in New Rockford
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows -1.5°F. About 20.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.9 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 190 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Rockford since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 11, 1974 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 17, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 28, 1996.
Severe weather in Eddy County since 1996
Eddy County has been included in 24 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 |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| January 21, 2020 | Flood | DR-4475: Flooding |
| August 19, 2014 | Flood | DR-4190: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Eddy County
Eddy County had 711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,146 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in New Rockford itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in New Rockford
2 public schools with 338 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEW ROCKFORD-SHEYENNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 207 | 14.8 |
| NEW ROCKFORD-SHEYENNE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 131 | 10.1 |
Towns near New Rockford
- Carrington, ND15.7 mi · 2,080 people · home $150,600
- Fort Totten, ND20.9 mi · 1,160 people · home —
New Rockford questions
Is New Rockford, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Rockford scores better for retirees than 99% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 78%. 29.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in New Rockford?
The median owner-occupied home in New Rockford is valued at $101,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,600, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $587 a month.
What is the weather like in New Rockford?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows -1.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.8 inches of precipitation a year and 45.9 inches of snow.
Does New Rockford get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Rockford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 11, 1974. 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)