Turtle Lake is a small town of 503 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $58,125
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Turtle Lake 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 Turtle Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Turtle Lake 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: 90.3
Turtle Lake's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Turtle Lake costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Turtle Lake, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$122,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$815
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,125
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Turtle Lake's violent crime rate is 95.2 per 100,000 residents
— 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
95.2 /100k
Property Crime
761.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Turtle Lake is served primarily by TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Turtle Lake, ND
National Avg
School District
TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Turtle Lake sees average highs of 20.1°F in January
and 82.7°F in July,
with 18.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.1 inches of snow per year.
Turtle Lake's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Turtle Lake roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $122,500 and median rent is $815/month.
Turtle Lake's violent crime rate is 95.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 761.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Turtle Lake are operated by TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.3:1. 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Turtle Lake, ND has a population of 503, a median household income of $58,125, 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.
Turtle Lake averages 20.1°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.2 inches
with about 44.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Turtle Lake, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58575.
The population of Turtle Lake, North Dakota is 503 with a median age of 42.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Turtle Lake: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $122,500, median household income $58,125, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Turtle Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
