Pierce County Courthouse · National Register of Historic Places
Rugby’s story
140 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1907.
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1886Rugby is settled
RugbyND
A town of 2,412, settled in 1886.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,412
2025 Census estimate · −3.9% since 2020
Typical home
$204K
+5.3% in a year
Household income
$50K
median
Median age
40.1
years
Jobs based here
1,145
Balanced
Is Rugby a good place to live?
Rugby’s best subject grades are an A− for schools and walkability; its weakest is a C for incomes. 45% of working residents work locally in Rugby, above both the North Dakota town median (39%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). No town among the 24 in North Dakota we compare has a higher share of residents 65 or older than Rugby. Rugby has 4 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Pierce County Courthouse and US Post Office-Rugby. Rugby has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Rugby stand out
Where Rugby beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
RUGBY 5 schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Rugby Ely Elementary School | PK–6 | 285 |
| Rugby High School | 7–12 | 304 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 77% of U.S. towns
3% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A shrinking town
Rugby has shrunk 16% since 2010
2,876 counted in 2010 and 2,509 in 2020; an estimated 2,412 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Rugby grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Dakota), ordered by how far Rugby is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 11% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listAOpen →SchoolsA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.2 of 20; 2.5% of households have no carA−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →Jobs & income$50K median household incomeCOpen →HealthHeart of America Medical Center 0.3 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 1% conserved landC+Open →History9 notable people born hereB+Open →Civic life11.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.1; 30% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Rugby: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rugby, and how to reach them.
PowerOtter Tail Power11.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Rugby water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Rugby’s trash rules yet
Register to voteNot requiredNorth Dakota has no voter registration: you show ID at the polls.vote.govWho runs elections herePierce County AuditorPierce County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2022
ZIP code5836858368 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Jul 30, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Rugby.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Cold waves leads a very low hazard risk in Rugby
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 89% of U.S. communities.
11risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsA−
Rugby’s public schools outperform 84% of North Dakota districts
Its public schools are run by the Rugby 5 school district. Its two schools are below. The largest public high school is Rugby High School, with 304 students.
84%of ND districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby Ely Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 285 | B+ |
| Rugby High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 304 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ND on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B+
A typical Rugby home is worth about $204K
The typical Rugby home is worth about $204,000, up 5.3% in a year, 30% below the North Dakota typical home. 74% of Rugby households own their home, against 57% in North Dakota’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns. The median rent in Rugby is $853 a month.
$204KZillow home value
| Rugby | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 74% | 57% | 73% |
| Median rent | $853 a month | $977 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Rugby$204K
North Dakota$291K
+5.3%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
Older than North Dakota overall
People 65 and older are 25% of residents (17% statewide); children under 18 are 18% of residents (24% statewide). Only 2 of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare have a lower share of children under 18 than Rugby. Rugby has lost 3.9% of its people since 2020, down to 2,412 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
40.1median age · ND 35.9
| Rugby | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 18% | 26% | 22% |
| Median age | 40.1 years | 33.9 years | 40.5 years |
RugbyNorth DakotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
13%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school34%
Some college17%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.1 points. Across North Dakota, 48.8% of residents are women.
| Rugby | ND | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12% | 13% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.4% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12.1% | 11.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.7% | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.5% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.7% | 10.1% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.3% | 11.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.3% | 9.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 13.1% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.9% | 6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34% | 25.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 17% | 21.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.9% | 14% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.8% | 23% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.4% | 9.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,400, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Rugby, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Rugby has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Rugby’s July high is 80°F.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter-0–20°
Spring27–50°
Summer53–78°
Fall30–53°
Sep 23
typical first frost
May 17
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Rugby has 1.1 jobs for every working resident, and 696 people commute in
Jobs based in Rugby fell to 1,145 in 2023, 230 fewer than in 2013. Only 1 of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare have a lower median household income than Rugby. 13% of residents live below the poverty line in Rugby.
45%work in town
| Rugby | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 11 minutes | 16 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $50,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 9.8% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Rugby45%
Fargo5%
Minot5%
Bismarck4%
Harvey3%
1 mi
median commute distance
1,145
jobs based in Rugby
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 77% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Rugby
Rugby's reported crime rate is well below North Dakota's. Only 1 of the 17 North Dakota towns we compare have a lower violent crime rate than Rugby. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Rugby | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 6.9 per 1,000 residents | 18.7 | 13.1 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 2.6 | 1.8 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Rugby0.4
North Dakota2.8
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Rugby6.9
North Dakota19.7
U.S.19.5
1
violent crimes reported in 2023
17
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Rugby is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns
Rugby beats the North Dakota average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 27% of Rugby adults feel lonely. No town among the 24 in North Dakota we compare has a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Rugby.
55%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Rugby | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 29% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 22% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 31% | 35% |
32 measures vs. North Dakota
2 better21 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Rugby | ND |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.6% | 76.3% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 86.2% | 82.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.3% | 6.1% |
Heart of America Medical Center
0.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsC+
Rugby stands out in North Dakota and nationally, with trail density lower than most
Of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower trail density than Rugby. 0.2 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
0.9%conserved
| Rugby | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.9% | 2.8% | 4.3% |
0.9%
conserved · 14 of 1,475 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ellery Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rugby
19pages on Rugby
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 84% of ND districts · 2 schoolsSafety0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2023)HealthBBetter than ND on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$204K typical home · up 5.3% in a yearWork & commuteC$50K median household income · 1,145 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 11% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Rugby; the nearest are
Turtle Mountain Community CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Belcourt37.4 mi$2,794 tuitionDakota College at BottineauCommunity college · Public · Bottineau38.3 mi$5,388 in-state tuitionMinot State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Minot60.7 mi$8,702 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Rugby residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across North Dakota.
Landmarks
4 places in Rugby on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Rugby
9 notable people were born in Rugby.
H
Harald BredesenAmerican pastor · 1918–2006
S
Samuel KirkAmerican psychologist and educator who coined the term learning disability · 1904–1996C
Chris TuchschererAmerican martial artist · born 1975D
Dee L. BrownMontana legislator · born 1948About Rugby
City in North Dakota, United States
Rugby is a city in and the county seat of Pierce County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 2,509 at the 2020 census, making it the 19th largest city in North Dakota. Rugby was founded in 1886. Rugby is often billed as the geographic center of North America.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1886
- Area
- 2.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,549 ft
- ZIP code
- 58368
- Area code
- 701
Rugby’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Rugby.
Torgerson TownshipMeyer TownshipRugby
How the neighbors grade
| Town | ND rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby | — | — | B+ | — | A− | B |
| Torgerson Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Meyer Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Rugby has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Rugby reports no FBI crime data of its own. Torgerson Township and Meyer Township aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Rugby with a neighbor →
Questions about Rugby
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rugby, ND expensive?
Not for the area. That is 3.4 years of the area's median household income ($59,365 across the county).
What is Rugby, ND known for?
9 notable people were born here, including Don Gaetz and Harald Bredesen.