Northwood spent more per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities
Northwood’s city government spent $791,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $895 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($289,000) and the airport ($16,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Northwood is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$895 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them
Northwood’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($895 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 157 North Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $730, and the middle half spent $500–$1,012. Northwood spent more than 68% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($31,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
North Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Northwood itself left out).
About $895 per resident a year, or $2.45 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 43%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Northwood reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.
full-time in March 2025, the same as 7 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
The typical homeowner pays $2,219 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.07% of the home’s value, vs 0.99% across North Dakota.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Northwood’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Northwood’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Northwood →
Who’s in charge in Northwood
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Northwood’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on discovernorthwood.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 126 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (884).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Northwood Public School District 129
Northwood’s K–12 school district, shared with Lind Township, Loretta Township, Northwood Township, Avon Township, Logan Center Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,519 per pupil, $8,718 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
North Dakota districts overall: 40% local, 46% state, 14% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Northwood’s votes are counted by county
North Dakota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Northwood alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Grand Forks County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican57.7%18,123 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat39.7%12,469 votesOthers: 2.6% (819 votes).
Most votes in Grand Forks County: Donald J Trump
North Dakota: Trump 67.0%, Harris 30.5%
100% of Northwood lies in Grand Forks County. Every 2024 race in Grand Forks County is on the county’s page.
Grand Forks County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Northwood.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: discovernorthwood.com ↗
- 2North Dakota HouseState representatives
- 3North Dakota SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Dakota
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Northwood’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Northwood’s government
How much does Northwood spend per resident?
About $895 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $895 was more than 68% of 157 North Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Northwood?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,219 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.07% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.99% across North Dakota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see discovernorthwood.com.
Who runs Northwood’s government?
See discovernorthwood.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Northwood yet.
How did Northwood vote in 2024?
North Dakota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Northwood alone. Grand Forks County, where 100% of Northwood lies, voted Trump 57.7%, Harris 39.7% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Northwood?
7 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $36,214 (about $434,568 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Northwood in the state legislature?
State Senate District 20 (Randy Lemm) and State House District 20 (Dave Rustebakke and Mike Beltz). The House district also covers 84 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Northwood’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →