The Town FilesVelva, North Dakota
City in McHenry County · population 1,086 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,600
- Household income
- $83,060
- Jan low / Jul high
- -3° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 35.4
Velva is a city of 1,086 people in McHenry County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $194,600, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks easier by car than 86% of North Dakota towns, better for families than 83% of North Dakota towns, quieter than 76% of North Dakota towns.
How Velva 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 Velva is worth $194,600, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $83,060, which is more affordable than 62% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $769 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Velva | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,600 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $769 | $775 |
| Median household income | $83,060 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.1% | — |
Who lives in Velva
| People | Velva | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in Velva
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows -3.4°F. About 19.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.0 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 197 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Velva since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 6, 1982 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 6, 2004.
Severe weather in McHenry County since 1996
McHenry County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 5, 2023 | Flood | DR-4717: Flooding |
| 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 |
| July 12, 2017 | Flood | DR-4323: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McHenry County
McHenry County had 1,298 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,382 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Velva itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Velva
2 public schools with 437 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VELVA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 227 | 11.4 |
| VELVA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 210 | 14.0 |
Towns near Velva
- Surrey, ND15.6 mi · 1,357 people · home $315,800
- Minot, ND20.1 mi · 48,377 people · home $257,100
- Burlington, ND26.1 mi · 1,291 people · home $243,500
Velva questions
Is Velva, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Velva scores better for retirees than 59% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 76%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Velva?
The median owner-occupied home in Velva is valued at $194,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,060, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $769 a month.
What is the weather like in Velva?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows -3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.2 inches of precipitation a year and 41.0 inches of snow.
Does Velva get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Velva 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)