Watford City spent more per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities
Watford City’s city government spent $17.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $2,996 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.3 million) and the airport ($267,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Watford City is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,724 per resident in 2022: more than 94% of them
Watford City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,724 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 171 North Dakota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $756, and the middle half spent $502–$1,014. Watford City spent more than 94% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.7 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
North Dakota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Watford City itself left out).
About $2,996 per resident a year, or $8.21 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 27%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 29% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Watford City reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,724 · 2023: $2,413 · 2024: $2,996. Per resident it went from $1,724 to $2,996 (up 74%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 7,944 to 5,885.
full-time in March 2025, up from 57 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $2,319 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.57% of the home’s value, vs 0.99% across North Dakota.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Watford City’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Watford City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Watford City →
Who’s in charge in Watford City
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Watford City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on watford.mckenziecounty.net ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 92 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (5,885).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
McKenzie County Public School District 1
Watford City’s K–12 school district, shared with Arnegard, Blue Butte Township, Elm Tree Township, Grail Township, Hawkeye Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,581 per pupil, $9,292 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
North Dakota districts overall: 40% local, 46% state, 14% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Watford City’s votes are counted by county
North Dakota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watford City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are McKenzie County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican83.8%4,627 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat14.7%809 votesOthers: 1.5% (85 votes).
Most votes in McKenzie County: Donald J Trump
North Dakota: Trump 67.0%, Harris 30.5%
100% of Watford City lies in McKenzie County. Every 2024 race in McKenzie County is on the county’s page.
McKenzie County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Watford City.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: watford.mckenziecounty.net ↗
- 2North Dakota HouseState representatives
- 3North Dakota SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Dakota
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Watford City’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Watford City’s government
How much does Watford City spend per resident?
About $2,996 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,724 was more than 94% of 171 North Dakota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Watford City?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,319 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.57% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.99% across North Dakota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see watford.mckenziecounty.net.
Who runs Watford City’s government?
See watford.mckenziecounty.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Watford City yet.
How did Watford City vote in 2024?
North Dakota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watford City alone. McKenzie County, where 100% of Watford City lies, voted Trump 83.8%, Harris 14.7% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Watford City?
64 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $522,535 (about $6.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Watford City in the state legislature?
State Senate District 26 (Dale Patten) and State House District 26 (Kelby Timmons and Roger Maki). The House district also covers 21 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Watford City’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →