The Town FilesPark River, North Dakota
City in Walsh County · population 1,424 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,900
- Household income
- $69,408
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 46.5
Park River is a city of 1,424 people in Walsh County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $131,900, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks easier by car than 91% of North Dakota towns, more walkable than 78% of North Dakota towns.
How Park River 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 Park River is worth $131,900, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $69,408, which is more affordable than 82% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $818 a month. 67.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Park River | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,900 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $818 | $775 |
| Median household income | $69,408 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.3% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Park River
| People | Park River | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 87.3% |
Weather in Park River
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 34.5 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
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Park River since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 24, 2022 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 26, 2007.
Severe weather in Walsh County since 1996
Walsh County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| 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 Walsh County
Walsh County had 4,790 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,220 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Park River itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Park River
2 public schools with 475 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARK RIVER AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 284 | 12.9 |
| PARK RIVER AREA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 191 | 14.7 |
Towns near Park River
- Grafton, ND15.5 mi · 4,170 people · home $147,300
- Minto, ND18.3 mi · 616 people · home $109,300
- Drayton, ND28.4 mi · 757 people · home $107,500
- Cavalier, ND28.4 mi · 1,246 people · home $170,400
Park River questions
Is Park River, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Park River scores better for retirees than 50% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 43%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Park River?
The median owner-occupied home in Park River is valued at $131,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,408, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $818 a month.
What is the weather like in Park River?
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 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Park River get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Park River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 24, 2022. 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)