The Town FilesOakes, North Dakota
City in Dickey County · population 1,798 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,700
- Household income
- $67,632
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 38.8
Oakes is a city of 1,798 people in Dickey County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $159,700, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for families than 91% of North Dakota towns, easier by car than 85% of North Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of North Dakota towns.
How Oakes 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 Oakes is worth $159,700, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $67,632, which is more affordable than 57% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $843 a month. 77.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oakes | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,700 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $843 | $775 |
| Median household income | $67,632 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 77.1% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Oakes
| People | Oakes | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 87.3% |
Weather in Oakes
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 2.2°F. About 24.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.4 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakes since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 10, 2011 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 26, 1977.
Severe weather in Dickey County since 1996
Dickey County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4760: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dickey County
Dickey County had 1,979 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,233 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Oakes itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Oakes
2 public schools with 480 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 247 | 11.2 |
| OAKES HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 233 | 17.9 |
Towns near Oakes
- LaMoure, ND18.1 mi · 764 people · home $151,900
- Gwinner, ND21.6 mi · 924 people · home $172,100
- Forman, ND21.7 mi · 509 people · home $128,100
- Ellendale, ND23.0 mi · 1,125 people · home $116,100
- Lisbon, ND28.2 mi · 2,204 people · home $192,100
- Britton, SD28.9 mi · 1,215 people · home $110,200
Oakes questions
Is Oakes, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oakes scores better for retirees than 66% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 55%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Oakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Oakes is valued at $159,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,632, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $843 a month.
What is the weather like in Oakes?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 2.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.2 inches of precipitation a year and 40.4 inches of snow.
Does Oakes get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakes 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)