NDMap-doton-Sanborn, 2004
Sanborn’s story
147 years in pictures
Census counts: 227 in 1890, a peak of 391 in 1920, 161 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1897 on.
- 1879Sanborn is settled
SanbornND
A town of 160, settled in 1879.
Population
160
2025 Census estimate · −1.8% since 2020
Median home value
$103K
Census ACS
Household income
$81K
median
Median age
61.0
years
Jobs based here
67
Balanced
Is Sanborn a good place to live?
1.4% of working residents work locally in Sanborn, against 39% in North Dakota’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Sanborn. Sanborn has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
160 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Sanborn: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sanborn, and how to reach them.
PowerCass County Elec Coop12.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBarnes Rural Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Sanborn’s trash rules yet
Register to voteNot requiredNorth Dakota has no voter registration: you show ID at the polls.vote.govWho runs elections hereBarnes County AuditorBarnes County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5848058480 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 Sanborn.
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Sanborn
Sanborn has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. At 81°F, Sanborn’s July high is below both North Dakota’s towns (82°F) and U.S. towns (85°F).
46″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter3–22°
Spring30–52°
Summer55–79°
Fall33–54°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 13
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Sanborn
Most working residents leave Sanborn for work: only 1% work in town. 1.9% of residents live below the poverty line in Sanborn. Since 2013, Sanborn has added 59 jobs, to 67 in 2023.
1%work in town
| Sanborn | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 1.9% | 9.8% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 16 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Sanborn1%
Valley City23%
Fargo21%
Jamestown14%
Cooperstown5%
35 mi
median commute distance
67
jobs based in Sanborn
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
A smaller share of adults in Sanborn feel lonely than in the typical North Dakota or U.S. town
26% of Sanborn adults feel lonely. Sanborn beats the North Dakota average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 13% of Sanborn adults report frequent mental distress.
| Sanborn | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 29% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 22% | 16% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 7.9% | 12% | 14% |
32 measures vs. North Dakota
7 better23 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Sanborn | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.3% | 7.3% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.9% | 10.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.7% | 8.2% |
CHI Mercy Health
10.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Cold waves leads a moderate hazard risk in Sanborn
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 56% of U.S. communities.
44risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHail
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sanborn
16pages on Sanborn
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Sanborn
About 5 of every 100 Sanborn residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across North Dakota.
About Sanborn
City in North Dakota, United States
Sanborn is a city in Barnes County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 161 at the 2020 census. Sanborn was founded in 1879.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1879
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,450 ft
- ZIP code
- 58480
- Area code
- 701
Questions about Sanborn
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sanborn, ND a good place to live?
Sanborn has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.