The Town FilesUnderwood, North Dakota
City in McLean County · population 784 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,200
- Household income
- $85,577
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 40.5
Underwood is a city of 784 people in McLean County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $191,200, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks quieter than 79% of North Dakota towns.
How Underwood 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 Underwood is worth $191,200, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $85,577, which is more affordable than 69% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $682 a month. 81.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Underwood | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,200 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $682 | $775 |
| Median household income | $85,577 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 81.5% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Underwood
| People | Underwood | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 87.3% |
Weather in Underwood
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 0.7°F. About 18.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Underwood since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 5, 1956 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 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 Underwood itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Underwood
2 public schools with 204 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNDERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 112 | 9.3 |
| UNDERWOOD HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 92 | 13.1 |
Towns near Underwood
- Washburn, ND12.4 mi · 1,300 people · home $238,200
- Turtle Lake, ND12.5 mi · 542 people · home $120,100
- Garrison, ND18.9 mi · 1,462 people · home $165,800
- Center, ND24.7 mi · 588 people · home $204,100
- Hazen, ND25.1 mi · 2,281 people · home $190,300
- Wilton, ND26.5 mi · 718 people · home $215,900
Underwood questions
Is Underwood, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Underwood scores better for retirees than 64% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 79%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Underwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Underwood is valued at $191,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,577, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $682 a month.
What is the weather like in Underwood?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 0.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.0 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does Underwood get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Underwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 5, 1956. 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)