Bowbells is a small town of 285 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $86,875
.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bowbells stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bowbells is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bowbells city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 86.0
Bowbells's overall cost of living index is 86.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bowbells costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bowbells, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$115,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$496
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$86,875
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Bowbells's violent crime rate is 47.3 per 100,000 residents
— 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
47.3 /100k
Property Crime
283.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Bowbells is served primarily by BOWBELLS 14.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Bowbells, ND
National Avg
School District
BOWBELLS 14
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
6.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bowbells sees average highs of 18.8°F in January
and 79.9°F in July,
with 19.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 47.4 inches of snow per year.
Bowbells's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bowbells roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $115,300 and median rent is $496/month.
Bowbells's violent crime rate is 47.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 283.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Bowbells are operated by BOWBELLS 14.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.8:1. 22.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Bowbells, ND has a population of 285, a median household income of $86,875, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Bowbells averages 18.8°F in January and 79.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.5 inches
with about 47.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bowbells, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58721.
The population of Bowbells, North Dakota is 285 with a median age of 49.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bowbells: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $115,300, median household income $86,875, crime index 13 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bowbells side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
