The Town FilesSurrey, North Dakota
City in Ward County · population 1,357 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $315,800
- Household income
- $106,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 34.7
Surrey is a city of 1,357 people in Ward County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $315,800, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks easier by car than 94% of North Dakota towns, more upscale than 81% of North Dakota towns, more of a college town than 79% of North Dakota towns.
How Surrey 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 Surrey is worth $315,800, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $106,438, which is more affordable than 28% of North Dakota towns. 94.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Surrey | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $315,800 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | — | $775 |
| Median household income | $106,438 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 94.4% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Surrey
| People | Surrey | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 36.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.4% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.4% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 87.3% |
Weather in Surrey
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 4.4°F. About 16.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.1 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Surrey since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 6, 1982 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 13, 1999.
Severe weather in Ward County since 1996
Ward County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| August 19, 2014 | Flood | DR-4190: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 12, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4128: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ward County
Ward County had 31,358 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,491 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Surrey itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Surrey
2 public schools with 418 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SURREY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 229 | 12.7 |
| SURREY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 189 | 11.1 |
Towns near Surrey
- Minot, ND6.9 mi · 48,377 people · home $257,100
- Burlington, ND13.2 mi · 1,291 people · home $243,500
- Minot AFB, ND15.5 mi · 5,017 people · home —
- Velva, ND15.6 mi · 1,086 people · home $194,600
Surrey questions
Is Surrey, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Surrey scores better for retirees than 45% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 28%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Surrey?
The median owner-occupied home in Surrey is valued at $315,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $106,438, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Surrey?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 4.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.7 inches of precipitation a year and 45.1 inches of snow.
Does Surrey get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Surrey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 6, 1982. 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)