The Town FilesRichardton, North Dakota
City in Stark County · population 692 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,500
- Household income
- $60,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.6
Richardton is a city of 692 people in Stark County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $188,500, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better transit than 83% of North Dakota towns, better for families than 71% of North Dakota towns.
How Richardton 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 Richardton is worth $188,500, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $60,179, which is more affordable than 23% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $593 a month. 85.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richardton | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,500 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $593 | $775 |
| Median household income | $60,179 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 85.6% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Richardton
| People | Richardton | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 87.3% |
Weather in Richardton
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 16.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.2 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richardton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 11, 1978 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 10, 2016.
Severe weather in Stark County since 1996
Stark County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4128: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 26, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1879: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 24, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1829: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Stark County
Stark County had 19,526 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,320 a year. Unemployment was 1.5% in 2023; in Richardton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Richardton
2 public schools with 191 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARDTON-TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 140 | 11.7 |
| RICHARDTON-TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 5-6 | 51 | 12.8 |
Towns near Richardton
- Hebron, ND14.0 mi · 794 people · home $98,100
- Dickinson, ND21.6 mi · 25,679 people · home $263,700
- Glen Ullin, ND24.4 mi · 732 people · home $109,200
Richardton questions
Is Richardton, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richardton scores better for retirees than 42% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 68%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Richardton?
The median owner-occupied home in Richardton is valued at $188,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,179, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $593 a month.
What is the weather like in Richardton?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.3 inches of precipitation a year and 33.2 inches of snow.
Does Richardton get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richardton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 11, 1978. 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)