The Town FilesWashburn, North Dakota
City in McLean County · population 1,300 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $238,200
- Household income
- $73,413
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 36.7
Washburn is a city of 1,300 people in McLean County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $238,200, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks quieter than 79% of North Dakota towns.
How Washburn 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 Washburn is worth $238,200, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $73,413, which is more affordable than 20% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $818 a month. 73.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washburn | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,200 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $818 | $775 |
| Median household income | $73,413 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.6% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Washburn
| People | Washburn | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 87.3% |
Weather in Washburn
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 2.1°F. About 17.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.1 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 3, 1955 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 30, 1991.
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 Washburn itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Washburn
2 public schools with 370 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WASHBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 236 | 11.8 |
| WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 134 | 9.6 |
Towns near Washburn
- Underwood, ND12.4 mi · 784 people · home $191,200
- Wilton, ND14.8 mi · 718 people · home $215,900
- Turtle Lake, ND17.0 mi · 542 people · home $120,100
- Center, ND17.7 mi · 588 people · home $204,100
- Hazen, ND28.0 mi · 2,281 people · home $190,300
Washburn questions
Is Washburn, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washburn scores better for retirees than 64% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 79%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Washburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Washburn is valued at $238,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,413, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $818 a month.
What is the weather like in Washburn?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 2.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.7 inches of precipitation a year and 43.1 inches of snow.
Does Washburn get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 3, 1955. 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)