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Compare towns

Burlington vs Ray

81 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (4.1× in Ray) and property tax bill (+58% in Burlington).

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Burlington, NDOne of the healthiest townsNorth Dakota · 1,067 people
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Ray, NDHomes around $223KNorth Dakota · 714 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

BurlingtonOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 88%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 83%of ND districts All about Burlington →
RayHomes around $223K
Housing$223K typical home24% below the ND typical home All about Ray →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker4.1×
Ray is more of a job hub
Ray 0.61Burlington 0.15
Property tax bill+58%
Tax bills are bigger in Burlington
Burlington $2,802Ray $1,779
Trails+89%
Burlington has more miles of trail
Burlington 1.7 miRay 0.9 mi
Street grid+64%
Ray has the more walkable street grid
Ray 58.8Burlington 35.9
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $510 more a month in Burlington

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Burlington$1,820/mo
Typical home $293K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.15% · or rent about $1,144/mo · Housing →
Ray$1,310/mo
Typical home $223K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.78% · or rent about $988/mo · Housing →

The difference: $510 a month, about $6,100 a year, between Burlington and Ray.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every North Dakota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
A−BurlingtonBetter than 83% of districts in the state BRayBetter than 55% of districts in the state
Health
ABurlingtonHealthier than 88% of U.S. towns –RayNot graded
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
BurlingtonRay
Snow a year52″44″
January low1°F2°F
July high80°F83°F
Growing season (days)136d136d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)21st10th
Outdoors & history
BurlingtonRay
Trails2 mi—
Conserved land3%—
Settled18831902
National Register places—1
Archive photos1112
Famous people born here—2
Community
BurlingtonRay
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

81 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BurlingtonNDRayND
Burlington ↔ Ray81 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

BurlingtonRay
People
Population 1,067Highest 714Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +21.8%Lowest ND: +15.8% +25%Highest ND: +15.8%
Median age 31.1±2.1Lowest 13% below ND 35.3±7.4Highest about the ND average
Ray and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 28%±4.3Lowest ND: 23.5% 31.4%±5.5Highest ND: 23.5%
Ray and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.1%±3.2Lowest ND: 16.5% 17.4%±4.7Highest ND: 16.5%
Ray and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.8%Highest ND: 32.7% 15.1%Lowest ND: 32.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.7%±2.8Highest ND: 7.6% 0.8%±1.7Lowest ND: 7.6%
Burlington and Ray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $77,708±$11kHighest about the ND average $72,031±$20kLowest 6% below ND
Burlington and Ray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $243,500±$26kHighest about the ND average $227,600±$40kLowest 9% below ND
Burlington and Ray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,144±$93Highest 20% above ND $988±$177Lowest 4% above ND
Burlington and Ray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,802Highest 14% above ND $1,779Lowest 28% below ND
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 36.9%±22.7Lowest ND: 38.9% 41.7%±35.8Highest ND: 38.9%
Ray and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 3%Lowest ND: 10.8% 12.3%Highest ND: 10.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 68%Highest ND: 62.9% 62.4%Lowest ND: 62.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1988Highest 6 yrs newer than ND 1983Lowest 1 yr newer than ND
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minLowest 30% above ND 26 minHighest 46% above ND
Work from home 1.7%±1.4Lowest ND: 8.1% 6.8%±8.3Highest ND: 8.1%
Ray and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.4%Lowest 6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.8 miLowest 25.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.15Lowest 0.61Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Minot (46%)Williston (39%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RayFew work in Burlington
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3%Lowest 9.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.7 miHighest 0.9 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.9 miHighest 0.7 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 35.9Lowest 58.8Highest
Schools
School district UNITED 7NESSON 2
High school in town None in townRay High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 11.7
North Dakota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Burlington neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Burlington’s Town Square.

Ray neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ray’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Burlington and Ray

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Burlington

+ Compare
Burlington Township240 people · $406K homes
H
+ Compare
Harrison Township2,189 people · $475K homes
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+ Compare
Kirkelie Township344 people · $231K homes

Towns like Burlington

K
+ Compare
Killdeer985 people · $341K homes
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Velva1,083 people · $195K homes
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Glenburn461 people · $178K homes
M
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Mission Township943 people · $106K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks North Dakota towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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