The Town FilesStanley, North Dakota
City in Mountrail County · population 2,321 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $237,900
- Household income
- $109,573
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 34.8
Stanley is a city of 2,321 people in Mountrail County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $237,900, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks easier by car than 94% of North Dakota towns, more upscale than 77% of North Dakota towns.
How Stanley 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 Stanley is worth $237,900, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $109,573, which is more affordable than 69% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,144 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stanley | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $237,900 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $1,144 | $775 |
| Median household income | $109,573 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Stanley
| People | Stanley | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.0% | 87.3% |
Weather in Stanley
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows -0.6°F. About 19.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.4 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 202 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stanley since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 5, 1955 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 6, 1971.
Severe weather in Mountrail County since 1996
Mountrail County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| October 2, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4565: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Mountrail County
Mountrail County had 5,341 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,655 a year. Unemployment was 1.2% in 2023; in Stanley itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Stanley
2 public schools with 779 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STANLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 447 | 16.0 |
| STANLEY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 332 | 15.8 |
Towns near Stanley
- New Town, ND22.8 mi · 2,764 people · home $207,600
- Four Bears Village, ND24.3 mi · 500 people · home —
- Tioga, ND25.7 mi · 2,202 people · home $199,600
- Parshall, ND27.3 mi · 949 people · home $122,400
- Kenmare, ND28.9 mi · 961 people · home $115,500
Stanley questions
Is Stanley, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stanley scores better for retirees than 33% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 50%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Stanley?
The median owner-occupied home in Stanley is valued at $237,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,573, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,144 a month.
What is the weather like in Stanley?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows -0.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.3 inches of precipitation a year and 47.4 inches of snow.
Does Stanley get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stanley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 5, 1955. 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)