Drake is a small town of 297 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $43,750
and a 15.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Drake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Drake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Drake 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: 86.2
Drake's overall cost of living index is 86.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Drake costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Drake, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$67,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$708
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Drake's violent crime rate is 156.7 per 100,000 residents
— 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
156.7 /100k
Property Crime
626.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Drake is served primarily by DRAKE 57.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Drake, ND
National Avg
School District
DRAKE 57
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Drake sees average highs of 17.2°F in January
and 80.9°F in July,
with 18.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 41.0 inches of snow per year.
Drake's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Drake roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $67,600 and median rent is $708/month.
Drake's violent crime rate is 156.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 626.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Drake are operated by DRAKE 57.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.3:1. 13.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Drake, ND has a population of 297, a median household income of $43,750, and an unemployment rate of 15.6%.
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.
Drake averages 17.2°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.1 inches
with about 41.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Drake, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58736.
The population of Drake, North Dakota is 297 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Drake: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $67,600, median household income $43,750, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Drake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
