The Town FilesSteele, North Dakota
City in Kidder County · population 665 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,000
- Household income
- $65,329
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 52.2
Steele is a city of 665 people in Kidder County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $161,000, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of North Dakota towns, better for cycling than 93% of North Dakota towns, hipper than 87% of North Dakota towns.
How Steele 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 Steele is worth $161,000, close to the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $65,329, which is more affordable than 53% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $824 a month. 68.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Steele | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,000 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $824 | $775 |
| Median household income | $65,329 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.7% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Steele
| People | Steele | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.6% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 11.4 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in Steele
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 1.4°F. About 21.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.9 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Steele since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 3, 1999 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 27, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 31, 1997.
Severe weather in Kidder County since 1996
Kidder County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4895: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4888: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 5, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4686: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4613: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kidder County
Kidder County had 732 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,188 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Steele itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Steele
2 public schools with 392 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIDDER COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 241 | 12.1 |
| KIDDER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 151 | 10.1 |
Towns near Steele
- Napoleon, ND25.4 mi · 749 people · home $87,700
Steele questions
Is Steele, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Steele scores better for retirees than 29% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 58%. 31.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Steele?
The median owner-occupied home in Steele is valued at $161,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,329, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $824 a month.
What is the weather like in Steele?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 1.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.4 inches of precipitation a year and 48.9 inches of snow.
Does Steele get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Steele since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 3, 1999. 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)