The Town FilesRolla, North Dakota
City in Rolette County · population 1,223 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,500
- Household income
- $49,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- -3° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 38.6
Rolla is a city of 1,223 people in Rolette County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $151,500, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 84% of North Dakota towns, easier by car than 82% of North Dakota towns.
How Rolla 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 Rolla is worth $151,500, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $49,219, which is more affordable than 23% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $620 a month. 47.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rolla | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,500 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $620 | $775 |
| Median household income | $49,219 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 47.0% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in Rolla
| People | Rolla | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 32.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 9.8 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 87.3% |
Weather in Rolla
July highs average 74.6°F and January lows -3.4°F. About 19.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.6 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rolla since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 7, 2008 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 14, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 20, 1998.
Severe weather in Rolette County since 1996
Rolette County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Flood | DR-4323: Flooding |
| May 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4118: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Rolette County
Rolette County had 4,591 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,347 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Rolla itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Rolla
2 public schools with 260 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MT PLEASANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 138 | 11.5 |
| MT PLEASANT HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 122 | 11.1 |
Towns near Rolla
- Green Acres, ND3.7 mi · 605 people · home —
- Belcourt, ND6.1 mi · 1,510 people · home —
- Shell Valley, ND10.2 mi · 1,146 people · home $90,800
- East Dunseith, ND18.8 mi · 500 people · home $143,800
- Dunseith, ND20.7 mi · 632 people · home —
Rolla questions
Is Rolla, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rolla scores better for retirees than 43% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 27%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Rolla?
The median owner-occupied home in Rolla is valued at $151,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,219, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $620 a month.
What is the weather like in Rolla?
July highs average 74.6°F and January lows -3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37.6 inches of snow.
Does Rolla get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rolla since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 7, 2008. 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)