What are the schools like in Williston, ND?

Williston is served primarily by WILLISTON BASIN 7. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Williston?

The median household income in Williston, ND is $80,352 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Williston, ND?

Williston has an average high temperature of 22.1°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 15.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Williston, ND affordable or expensive?

Williston's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Williston is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $245,600 and the median rent is $1,095 per month.

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

Williston has a violent crime rate of 437.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2315.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Williston, ND a Good Place to Live?

Williston is a small city of 27,783 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $80,352 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Williston stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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

All Williston 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: 96.0

Williston's overall cost of living index is 96.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Williston costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Williston, ND	National Avg
Median Home Value	$245,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,095	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	45.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$80,352	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Williston's violent crime rate is 437.3 per 100,000 residents — 15% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

437.3 /100k

Property Crime

2315.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Williston is served primarily by WILLISTON BASIN 7. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Williston, ND	National Avg
School District	WILLISTON BASIN 7	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Williston sees average highs of 22.1°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 15.1 inches of annual precipitation and 48.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Williston, ND
Average High — January	22.1°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	15.1"
Annual Snowfall	48.2"

Demographics

Metric	Williston, ND	National Avg
Population	27,783	—
Median Age	31.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	28.9%	22.2%
65 and over	7.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Springbrook, ND 10 mi Trenton, ND 12 mi Epping, ND 15 mi Blacktail, ND 18 mi Long Creek, ND 19 mi

ZIP Codes in Williston

Williston, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code:

58801

Williston vs Other Cities

Williston, ND vs Springbrook, ND Williston, ND vs Trenton, ND Williston, ND vs Epping, ND Williston, ND vs Blacktail, ND Williston, ND vs Long Creek, ND

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Williston, ND affordable or expensive?

Williston's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Williston roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $245,600 and median rent is $1,095/month.

What is the crime rate in Williston, ND?

Williston's violent crime rate is 437.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2315.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Williston?

Public schools in Williston are operated by WILLISTON BASIN 7. The district has 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Williston, ND a good place to live?

Williston, ND has a population of 27,783, a median household income of $80,352, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. 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 Williston?

Williston averages 22.1°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.1 inches with about 48.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Williston?

Williston, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58801.

What is the population of Williston?

The population of Williston, North Dakota is 27,783 with a median age of 31.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Williston?

Key numbers for living in Williston: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $245,600, median household income $80,352, crime index 113 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Williston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.