The Town FilesPortland, North Dakota
City in Traill County · population 578 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,000
- Household income
- $90,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 53.1
Portland is a city of 578 people in Traill County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $194,000, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks hipper than 99% of North Dakota towns, more of a college town than 99% of North Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of North Dakota towns.
How Portland 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 Portland is worth $194,000, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $90,000, which is more affordable than 69% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $623 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portland | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,000 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $623 | $775 |
| Median household income | $90,000 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Portland
| People | Portland | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.1 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 15.7 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 87.3% |
Weather in Portland
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -3.7°F. About 23.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.7 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 189 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 17, 2010 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 31, 2017.
Severe weather in Traill County since 1996
Traill County has been included in 36 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Traill County
Traill County had 3,562 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,753 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Portland itself the ACS puts it at 0.3%.
Towns near Portland
- Mayville, ND2.0 mi · 1,854 people · home $198,200
- Hatton, ND10.4 mi · 712 people · home $140,800
- Hillsboro, ND15.8 mi · 1,649 people · home $174,800
- Northwood, ND18.4 mi · 982 people · home $208,200
- Thompson, ND22.7 mi · 1,101 people · home $281,900
- Halstad, MN27.4 mi · 564 people · home $128,600
Portland questions
Is Portland, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portland scores better for retirees than 75% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 10%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.1).
How much does a house cost in Portland?
The median owner-occupied home in Portland is valued at $194,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,000, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $623 a month.
What is the weather like in Portland?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -3.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.9 inches of precipitation a year and 34.7 inches of snow.
Does Portland get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 17, 2010. 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)