What are the schools like in Thompson, ND?

Thompson is served primarily by THOMPSON 61. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Thompson?

The median household income in Thompson, ND is $108,333 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.2%.

What is the weather like in Thompson, ND?

Thompson has an average high temperature of 15.3°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 24.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Thompson, ND affordable or expensive?

Thompson's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Thompson is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $256,300 and the median rent is $725 per month.

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

Thompson has a violent crime rate of 92.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of None per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Thompson, ND a Good Place to Live?

Thompson is a small town of 1,052 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $108,333 and a 0.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Thompson stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Thompson 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

Thompson's overall cost of living index is 86.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Thompson costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Thompson, ND	National Avg
Median Home Value	$256,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$725	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	90.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$108,333	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Thompson's violent crime rate is 92.1 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

92.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Thompson is served primarily by THOMPSON 61. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Thompson, ND	National Avg
School District	THOMPSON 61	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	36.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Thompson sees average highs of 15.3°F in January and 80.1°F in July, with 24.7 inches of annual precipitation and 48.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Thompson, ND
Average High — January	15.3°F
Average High — July	80.1°F
Annual Precipitation	24.7"
Annual Snowfall	48.7"

Demographics

Metric	Thompson, ND	National Avg
Population	1,052	—
Median Age	41.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.2%	22.2%
65 and over	10.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Reynolds, ND 7 mi Grand Forks, ND 10 mi East Grand Forks, MN 11 mi Buxton, ND 12 mi Fisher, MN 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Thompson

Thompson, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code:

58278

Thompson vs Other Cities

Thompson, ND vs Reynolds, ND Thompson, ND vs Grand Forks, ND Thompson, ND vs East Grand Forks, MN Thompson, ND vs Buxton, ND Thompson, ND vs Fisher, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thompson, ND affordable or expensive?

Thompson's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Thompson roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $256,300 and median rent is $725/month.

What is the crime rate in Thompson, ND?

Thompson's violent crime rate is 92.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is None per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Thompson?

Public schools in Thompson are operated by THOMPSON 61. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 36.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Thompson, ND a good place to live?

Thompson, ND has a population of 1,052, a median household income of $108,333, and an unemployment rate of 0.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Thompson?

Thompson averages 15.3°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.7 inches with about 48.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Thompson?

Thompson, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58278.

What is the population of Thompson?

The population of Thompson, North Dakota is 1,052 with a median age of 41.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Thompson?

Key numbers for living in Thompson: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $256,300, median household income $108,333, schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Thompson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.