The Town FilesWishek, North Dakota
City in McIntosh County · population 864 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,600
- Household income
- $69,904
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 48.6
Wishek is a city of 864 people in McIntosh County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $100,600, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks quieter than 97% of North Dakota towns, better for cycling than 83% of North Dakota towns, better for retirees than 73% of North Dakota towns.
How Wishek 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 Wishek is worth $100,600, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $69,904, which is more affordable than 96% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $586 a month. 80.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wishek | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,600 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $586 | $775 |
| Median household income | $69,904 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.3% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wishek
| People | Wishek | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.0% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 10.0 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in Wishek
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 1.3°F. About 20.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.9 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wishek since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 19, 1974 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 9, 2013.
Severe weather in McIntosh County since 1996
McIntosh County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4760: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in McIntosh County
McIntosh County had 998 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,427 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Wishek itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Wishek
2 public schools with 240 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WISHEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 144 | 20.6 |
| WISHEK HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 96 | 10.7 |
Towns near Wishek
- Ashley, ND17.5 mi · 613 people · home $58,900
- Napoleon, ND20.0 mi · 749 people · home $87,700
Wishek questions
Is Wishek, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wishek scores better for retirees than 73% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 97%. 33.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Wishek?
The median owner-occupied home in Wishek is valued at $100,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,904, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $586 a month.
What is the weather like in Wishek?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 1.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.7 inches of precipitation a year and 46.9 inches of snow.
Does Wishek get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wishek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 19, 1974. 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)