Velva is a small town of 1,050 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $75,147
and a 2.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Velva 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 Velva is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Velva 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: 91.1
Velva's overall cost of living index is 91.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Velva costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Velva, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$180,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$712
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$75,147
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Velva'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
Velva is served primarily by VELVA 1.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Velva, ND
National Avg
School District
VELVA 1
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Velva 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.
Velva's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Velva roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $180,000 and median rent is $712/month.
Velva'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 Velva are operated by VELVA 1.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Velva, ND has a population of 1,050, a median household income of $75,147, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%.
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.
Velva 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).
Velva, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58790.
The population of Velva, North Dakota is 1,050 with a median age of 37.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Velva: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $180,000, median household income $75,147, 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 Velva side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
