The Town FilesTurtle Lake, North Dakota
City in McLean County · population 542 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,100
- Household income
- $67,639
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 50.3
Turtle Lake is a city of 542 people in McLean County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $120,100, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of North Dakota towns, better for families than 89% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 86% of North Dakota towns.
How Turtle Lake 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 Turtle Lake is worth $120,100, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $67,639, which is more affordable than 88% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $779 a month. 80.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Turtle Lake | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,100 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $779 | $775 |
| Median household income | $67,639 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.9% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.0% | — |
Who lives in Turtle Lake
| People | Turtle Lake | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.8% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 87.3% |
Weather in Turtle Lake
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 1.0°F. About 18.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.1 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Turtle Lake since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 14, 2025 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 26, 2009.
Severe weather in McLean County since 1996
McLean County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4934: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4888: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in McLean County
McLean County had 3,404 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,874 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Turtle Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Turtle Lake
2 public schools with 190 students, about 8.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TURTLE LAKE-MERCER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 106 | 10.6 |
| TURTLE LAKE-MERCER HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 84 | 7.0 |
Towns near Turtle Lake
- Underwood, ND12.5 mi · 784 people · home $191,200
- Washburn, ND17.0 mi · 1,300 people · home $238,200
- Wilton, ND25.6 mi · 718 people · home $215,900
- Garrison, ND26.4 mi · 1,462 people · home $165,800
Turtle Lake questions
Is Turtle Lake, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Turtle Lake scores better for retirees than 57% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 86%. 24.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Turtle Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Turtle Lake is valued at $120,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,639, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $779 a month.
What is the weather like in Turtle Lake?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 1.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.2 inches of precipitation a year and 44.1 inches of snow.
Does Turtle Lake get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Turtle Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 14, 2025. 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)