Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 664, platted in 1878. Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Its National Register listings include Kidder County Courthouse and First Presbyterian Church of Steele. Steele has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Steele beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 133 in 1890, 665 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1910 and 3 maps from 1952 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Steele, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Jul 30, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Steele.
For working residents in Steele, the share who work locally is 28%. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Steele dropped by 46, to 332. Its average commute is 11 minutes, below both the North Dakota town median (16 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Also worth knowing: the median household income for Steele comes to $65,000.
| Steele | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 11 minutes | 16 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 28% | 39% | 8% |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Only 2 of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare have a lower share of children under 18 than Steele. People 65 and older are 32% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 18% of residents (25% statewide). College graduates make up 31% of adults 25 and older, against 33% across North Dakota.
| Steele | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 years | 33.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 17% | 26% | 22% |
43% women, 57% men
About 134 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4.2 points). Across North Dakota, 48.8% of residents are women.
| Steele | ND | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.7% | 13% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.6% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12.4% | 11.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.8% | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.8% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10% | 10.1% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.1% | 11.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.9% | 9.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 15.7% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.4% | 6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34.8% | 25.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.2% | 21.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 15% | 14% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 25.4% | 23% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.3% | 9.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 700, single groups can be off by several points
The town’s peak summer temperature stands at 82°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
In Steele, the median rent is $824 a month. Values rose 11% in the 12 months to September 2026. Among households here, 69% live in a home they own, against 57% in North Dakota’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns.
| Steele | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $824 a month | $977 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 69% | 57% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Households in Steele have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2009. Compared with 65% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage here is higher. Just over two fifths of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from cold waves, followed by inland flooding at 20%.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Steele is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Steele: two in five adults have obesity. Of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Steele.
| Steele | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 29% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 22% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 31% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 17% |
| What stands out | Steele | ND |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.6% | 76.3% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 85.6% | 82.7% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 15.9% | 10.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Steele; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Steele residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across North Dakota.
Where Steele’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
2 places in Steele on the National Register of Historic Places.
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Steele has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
