What are the schools like in Sawyer, ND?

Sawyer is served primarily by SAWYER 16. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 5.7:1.

What is the median household income in Sawyer?

The median household income in Sawyer, ND is $74,375 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.7%.

What is the weather like in Sawyer, ND?

Sawyer has an average high temperature of 20.2°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 19.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.0 inches.

Sawyer, ND Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sawyer, ND affordable or expensive?

Sawyer's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sawyer is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $163,300 and the median rent is $1,000 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sawyer, ND?

Sawyer has a violent crime rate of 260.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1128.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sawyer, ND a Good Place to Live?

Sawyer is a small town of 261 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $74,375 and a 0.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Sawyer stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sawyer is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sawyer 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: 93.3

Sawyer's overall cost of living index is 93.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sawyer costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sawyer, ND	National Avg
Median Home Value	$163,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,000	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	87.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,375	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Sawyer's violent crime rate is 260.2 per 100,000 residents — 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

260.2 /100k

Property Crime

1128.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sawyer is served primarily by SAWYER 16. The student-to-teacher ratio is 5.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sawyer, ND	National Avg
School District	SAWYER 16	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	5.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sawyer sees average highs of 20.2°F in January and 80.3°F in July, with 19.2 inches of annual precipitation and 41.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sawyer, ND
Average High — January	20.2°F
Average High — July	80.3°F
Annual Precipitation	19.2"
Annual Snowfall	41.0"

Demographics

Metric	Sawyer, ND	National Avg
Population	261	—
Median Age	43.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.5%	22.2%
65 and over	20.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Velva, ND 6 mi Logan, ND 7 mi Voltaire, ND 11 mi Surrey, ND 11 mi Minot, ND 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Sawyer

Sawyer, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code:

58781

Sawyer vs Other Cities

Sawyer, ND vs Velva, ND Sawyer, ND vs Logan, ND Sawyer, ND vs Voltaire, ND Sawyer, ND vs Surrey, ND Sawyer, ND vs Minot, ND

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sawyer, ND affordable or expensive?

Sawyer's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sawyer roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $163,300 and median rent is $1,000/month.

What is the crime rate in Sawyer, ND?

Sawyer's violent crime rate is 260.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1128.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sawyer?

Public schools in Sawyer are operated by SAWYER 16. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 5.7:1. 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sawyer, ND a good place to live?

Sawyer, ND has a population of 261, a median household income of $74,375, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Sawyer?

Sawyer averages 20.2°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.2 inches with about 41.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sawyer?

Sawyer, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58781.

What is the population of Sawyer?

The population of Sawyer, North Dakota is 261 with a median age of 43.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sawyer?

Key numbers for living in Sawyer: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $163,300, median household income $74,375, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sawyer side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.