Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Watford City grades B overall, ranked 9th of 23 in North Dakota, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 77% of the country and natural-hazard risk is low. On the other side, it reports more crime per resident than 79% of U.S. towns, including 24 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Watford City's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 93% of U.S. towns. Only 1 of the 17 North Dakota towns we compare have a higher typical home value than Watford City. Watford City is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 75% of U.S. towns.
Where Watford City beats most towns.
1,744 counted in 2010 and 6,207 in 2020; an estimated 6,378 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Dakota), ordered by how far Watford City is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 260 in 1920, a low of 260 in 1920, 6,207 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1953 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Watford City, 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 Watford City.
Watford City fares better on crime within North Dakota than nationally, is mostly renters and has colder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of North Dakota.
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 85% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Its public schools are run by the McKenzie Co 1 school district. Two of its 7 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Watford City High School, with 566 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Hills Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 663 | C+ |
| Watford City High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 566 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ND on state tests and graduation
At 34.8 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 67% of North Dakota’s graded towns.
At 3.9 per 1,000 residents, Watford City’s violent crime rate is against 2.1 in North Dakota’s towns and 1.6 across U.S. towns. The property crime rate in Watford City is 19.5 per 1,000 residents. Watford City reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 79% report less.
| Watford City | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.9 per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 19.5 per 1,000 residents | 14.5 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
26% of adults binge drink in Watford City, above both North Dakota’s towns (22%) and U.S. towns (16%). 68% of adults had a checkup this year in Watford City. Watford City beats the North Dakota average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10.
| Watford City | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 22% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 68% | 74% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 31% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 32% | 36% |
| What stands out | Watford City | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5% | 8.2% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 3.8% | 6.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 15.5% | 10.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Watford City home is worth about $389,000, up 6% in a year, 34% above the North Dakota typical home. 29% of Watford City households own their home.
| Watford City | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 29% | 59% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,336 a month | $973 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tourist Park | — | 9 |
| 2. Bolken Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
January nights average 3.5°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 91% of North Dakota places with climate records; July afternoons average 84.1°.
Watford City has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. Watford City’s January low is 4°F. Only 1 of the 23 North Dakota towns we compare have a higher July high than Watford City.
| Watford City | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 4°F | 1°F | 22°F |
| July high | 84°F | 82°F | 85°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
About one in 3 of Watford City’s working residents works in town. Since 2013, Watford City has added 408 jobs, to 3,168 in 2023. The top destinations are Williston (5%), Minot (2%) and Fargo (2%).
| Watford City | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 38% | 39% | 8% |
| Median household income | $102,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 16 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 10% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
None within 15 miles of Watford City; the nearest are
About 6 of every 100 Watford City residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across North Dakota.
3 notable people were born in Watford City.
City in North Dakota, United States
Watford City (Hidatsa: abaʔaruʔush), founded in 1914, is a city in and the county seat of McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 6,207 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 6,378 in 2025, making it the 14th-most-populous city in North Dakota. Because Watford City is part of the Bakken field, the North Dakota oil boom has significantly increased population and construction since the 2010 census. The main offices of First International Bank and the headquarters of McKenzie Electric Cooperative are in Watford City. The local newspaper is the McKenzie County Farmer.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
By most measures, yes. Watford City grades B overall, better than 62% of U.S. towns and #9 of 23 in North Dakota. It grades A− for health, C− for safety and B− for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a C−.
That is 4.2 years of the area's median household income ($93,404 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
3 notable people were born here, including Brent Sanford and Ruth Buffalo.