No town among the 21 in North Dakota we compare has a lower median rent than Underwood. Underwood has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

760 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Longfellow Township · 5 mi Coleharbor · 7 mi Victoria Township · 8 mi Turtle Lake Township · 10 mi Riverdale · 11 mi Malcolm Township · 12 mi

Veeder Cemetery gate, 2023

Underwood’s story

123 years in pictures

The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.

1903Underwood is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Underwood: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Underwood, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerOtter Tail Power11.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Underwood water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpThursdayTrash dayTown site

SchoolsUnderwood Public School District 8Which school depends on your addressNCES

Who runs elections hereMcLean County AuditorMcLean County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2022

ZIP code5857658576 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 Underwood.

Housing

A typical Underwood home is worth about $160K

The typical Underwood home is worth about $160,000, down 2.4% in a year, 45% below the North Dakota typical home. 82% of households own their home in Underwood, against 57% in North Dakota’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns.

$160KZillow home value

Typical home value

Underwood$160K

North Dakota$291K

−2.4%

value change, 1 year

Full pageUnderwood’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsDown 2.4% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 1.9 years of income Rents$682 a month · Median rent

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Schools

The schools Underwood’s kids attend

Its public schools are run by the Underwood 8 school district. Its two schools are below.

School	Level	Students	Letter
Underwood Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6	Grades PK–6	91	B
Underwood High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12	Grades 7–12	98	C⁻

Full pageUnderwood’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsUNDERWOOD 8 Every school2 schools · Underwood High School Questions“Are Underwood’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts

Work & commute

Underwood has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out

Most working residents leave Underwood for work: only 5% work in town. Since 2013, Underwood has lost 50 jobs, to 141 in 2023. Underwood’s average trip to work is 23 minutes, above North Dakota’s towns (16 minutes) but below U.S. towns (25 minutes).

5%work in town

	Underwood	North Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	4.5%	39%	8%
Average trip to work	23 minutes	16 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$86,000	$73,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Underwood5%

Bismarck24%

Washburn12%

Wilton6%

Fargo5%

45 mi

median commute distance

141

jobs based in Underwood

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageUnderwood’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here141 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work5% work in Underwood Commute times23 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 45 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

Four seasons and pleasant summers in Underwood

Underwood has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Underwood’s July high is 82°F.

39″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter6–24°

Spring30–52°

Summer55–79°

Fall33–54°

Sep 29

typical first frost

May 10

typical last frost

+1.1°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageUnderwood’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 82°, January lows 3°Rain & snow39″ of snow a winter · 18 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.1° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazards

Low risk in Underwood, with cold waves at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 64% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Underwood.

36risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Cold wavesInland floodingHail

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageUnderwood’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims3 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters3 federal disasters · Paid out in Underwood Get ready19 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Health

How healthy Underwood is

Underwood beats the North Dakota average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 20% of Underwood adults binge drink. Of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Underwood.