The Town FilesNew Salem, North Dakota
City in Morton County · population 973 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,000
- Household income
- $69,519
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.8
New Salem is a city of 973 people in Morton County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $187,000, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of North Dakota towns, hipper than 77% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 73% of North Dakota towns.
How New Salem 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 Salem is worth $187,000, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $69,519, which is more affordable than 41% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $871 a month. 71.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Salem | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,000 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $871 | $775 |
| Median household income | $69,519 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 71.2% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.8% | — |
Who lives in New Salem
| People | New Salem | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.5% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 87.3% |
Weather in New Salem
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 1.8°F. About 18.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.5 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 192 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Salem since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 20, 2025 about 8.5 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 61 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 30, 2013.
Severe weather in Morton County since 1996
Morton County has been included in 27 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 |
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4444: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Morton County
Morton County had 12,332 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,642 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in New Salem itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in New Salem
2 public schools with 379 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRAIRIE VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 215 | 12.6 |
| NEW SALEM-ALMONT HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 164 | 11.7 |
Towns near New Salem
- Center, ND19.6 mi · 588 people · home $204,100
- Glen Ullin, ND19.8 mi · 732 people · home $109,200
- Mandan, ND25.1 mi · 24,206 people · home $259,800
- Hebron, ND29.9 mi · 794 people · home $98,100
New Salem questions
Is New Salem, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Salem scores better for retirees than 47% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 73%. 28.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in New Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in New Salem is valued at $187,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,519, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $871 a month.
What is the weather like in New Salem?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.3 inches of precipitation a year and 44.5 inches of snow.
Does New Salem get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 20, 2025. 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)