Drayton is a small town of 812 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $68,971
and a 3.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Drayton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Drayton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Drayton 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: 86.4
Drayton's overall cost of living index is 86.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Drayton costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Drayton, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$96,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$584
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$68,971
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Drayton's violent crime rate is 58.8 per 100,000 residents
— 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
58.8 /100k
Property Crime
382.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Drayton is served primarily by DRAYTON 19.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Drayton, ND
National Avg
School District
DRAYTON 19
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Drayton sees average highs of 15.5°F in January
and 81.3°F in July,
with 22.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 43.6 inches of snow per year.
Drayton's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Drayton roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $96,900 and median rent is $584/month.
Drayton's violent crime rate is 58.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 382.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Drayton are operated by DRAYTON 19.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.1:1. 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Drayton, ND has a population of 812, a median household income of $68,971, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%.
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.
Drayton averages 15.5°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.3 inches
with about 43.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Drayton, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58225.
The population of Drayton, North Dakota is 812 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Drayton: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $96,900, median household income $68,971, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Drayton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
