City profile · North Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Valley City, ND

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Valley City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

6,554
Residents
$56,471
Median income
$152,800
Median home
$948
Median rent (state)

Valley City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Valley City places in the 30th percentile for household income and the 60th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

30th
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
10th
percentile, median rent
60th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Valley City, ND

Valley City is a small town in North Dakota, home to 6,554 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $56,471 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.8%. Valley City's housing stock carries a median value of $152,800, and the median resident age is 38.0 years. Educational attainment runs 30.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 3 residential building permits were authorized in Valley City (Slowing), down 25% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Valley City reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1100.8 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 40.5°F with 21.5 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in North Dakota run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Dakota scores 89.0 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $948 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Dakota's average monthly utility costs around $200 (state average). Commute times here average 15.0 minutes, with 83.7% driving alone and 2.4% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 45.9 out of 100 (Low).

Population

6,554 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Dakota

Median Household Income

$56,471 /yr

Poverty 9.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Dakota average

How does Valley City compare to other US cities?

Where Valley City sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 30% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% pricier than other cities
Safety 60% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Dakota, Valley City ranks #8 of 21 North Dakota cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Valley City's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in North Dakota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

30thIncome percentile
60thSafety percentile

30th percentile nationally for median household income · 60th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Valley City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Valley City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 57 Avg. percentile National median
Valley City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Valley City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$152,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Valley City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Valley City, ND Valley City, ND's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Valley City, ND-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Valley City, ND median $56,471/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Valley City, ND's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Valley City, ND. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
6,554
Median Income
$56,471
Median Home Value
$152,800
Median Age
38.0
Poverty Rate
9.8%
Labor force participation
60.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1100.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
152.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
947.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
40.5°F
Annual Precipitation
21.5"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,400 residents6,450 residents6,500 residents6,550 residents6,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,581 residents 6,430 residents ▼ -2.3%
Valley City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 10
2021 46
2022 14
2023 0
2024 3

Permit volume decreased 25% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.0 minutes
Drive Alone
83.7%
Carpool
5.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
7.0%
Work from Home
2.4%
Other
1.2%

Based on 3,123 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Dakota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$200
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Dakota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Dakota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Valley City sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$948/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
45.9 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Dakota

Watford City
6,016 people
Devils Lake
7,170 people
Wahpeton
7,996 people
Minot AFB
4,904 people
Lincoln
4,309 people
Grafton
4,128 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Valley City's 6,554 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Carbondale, CO
6,553 people
South Lebanon, OH
6,552 people
Kula, HI
6,557 people
Franklin, LA
6,557 people
Calipatria, CA
6,549 people
Pratt, KS
6,559 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Valley City's $56,471 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

White Settlement, TX
$56,472 median income
Brice, OH
$56,473 median income
Sanborn, IA
$56,477 median income
Clearville, PA
$56,477 median income
Kirkwood, PA
$56,477 median income
Kreamer, PA
$56,464 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Valley City, ND Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Valley City, ND - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.8% White 90.0% Black or African American 2.1% Asian 2.2% American Indian 1.8% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 3.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Valley City compares to nearby North Dakota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Valley City (this city) 6,554 $56,471
Watford City 6,016 $88,351
Devils Lake 7,170 $42,755
Wahpeton 7,996 $57,417
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ND FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Valley City, ND?

What is the population of Valley City, ND? +

Valley City, ND has a population of 6,554 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Valley City, ND? +

The median household income in Valley City is $56,471 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Valley City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Valley City; the closest available measure is the North Dakota state average, a cost of living index of 89.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Dakota vary by metro area.

Is Valley City, ND safe? +

Valley City has a total crime rate of 1100.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Valley City, ND? +

Homes in Valley City carry a median value of $152,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Valley City? +

Climate normals put Valley City's yearly average temperature at 40.5°F, 21.5 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.