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Dunseith vs Rolla

21 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.3× in Rolla) and growth since 2010 (+13.7 pts in Rolla).

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Dunseith, NDKnown for its schoolsNorth Dakota · 818 people
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Rolla, NDA regional job hubNorth Dakota · 1,039 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.

DunseithKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 5%of ND districts Work394 jobsbased in Dunseith, a regional job hub All about Dunseith →
RollaA regional job hub
Work836 jobsbased in Rolla, a regional job hub Health88% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 18%of ND districts All about Rolla →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

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

Property tax bill2.3×
Tax bills are bigger in Rolla
Rolla $1,690Dunseith $730
Growth since 2010+13.7 pts
Rolla has grown faster since 2010
Rolla -4.5%Dunseith -18.2%
Work in town+20.7 pts
More of Rolla’s workers stay in town
Rolla 35.2%Dunseith 14.5%
Average commute10 min
Rolla has the shorter commute
Dunseith 20 minRolla 10 min
Bachelor’s degree++10.8 pts
More adults in Rolla have a degree
Rolla 22%Dunseith 11.2%
Trails+61%
Rolla has more miles of trail
Rolla 2.9 miDunseith 1.8 mi
★ What stands out · 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
DDunseithBetter than 5% of districts in the state C−RollaBetter than 18% of districts in the state
Health
–DunseithNot graded DRollaHealthier than 12% of U.S. towns
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
DunseithRolla
Snow a year50″38″
January low-4°F-5°F
July high79°F81°F
Growing season (days)133d127d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)26th3rd
Outdoors & history
DunseithRolla
Trails2 mi3 mi
Conserved land0%0.1%
Settled18841888
Archive photos12—
Famous people born here3—
Community
DunseithRolla
Library hours a week—19 hrs
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

21 miles apart

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

DunseithRollaDunseithRolla
Dunseith ↔ Rolla21 miles apart
Who commutes between them
17 Rolla residents work in Dunseith (3.1% of its workers)
16 Dunseith residents work in Rolla (9.2% of its workers)
Work & commute in Rolla →
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.

DunseithRolla
People
Population 818Lowest 1,039Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -18.2%Lowest ND: +15.8% -4.5%Highest ND: +15.8%
Median age 36.4±0.6Lowest about the ND average 38.6±5Highest 8% above ND
Rolla and Dunseith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 36.2%±6.3Highest ND: 23.5% 32.1%±7.7Lowest ND: 23.5%
Dunseith and Rolla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.6%±7.4Lowest ND: 16.5% 19.8%±3.5Highest ND: 16.5%
Rolla and Dunseith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.2%Lowest ND: 32.7% 22%Highest ND: 32.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.7%±1.8Lowest ND: 7.6% 3.7%±2.6Highest ND: 7.6%
Rolla and Dunseith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $51,449±$1kHighest 33% below ND $49,219±$18kLowest 36% below ND
Dunseith and Rolla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied — $151,500±$50k 39% below ND
Rentmedian gross, monthly $364±$362Lowest 62% below ND $620±$59Highest 35% below ND
Rolla and Dunseith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $730Lowest 70% below ND $1,690Highest 32% below ND
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 25%±1.8Lowest ND: 38.9% 44.1%±9Highest ND: 38.9%
Below poverty line 11.1%Lowest ND: 10.8% 23.1%Highest ND: 10.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 43.4%Lowest ND: 62.9% 47%Highest ND: 62.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1969Lowest 13 yrs older than ND 1976Highest 6 yrs older than ND
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minHighest 12% above ND 10 minLowest 45% below ND
Work from home 0%±4.2Lowest ND: 8.1% 1.6%±1.8Highest ND: 8.1%
Rolla and Dunseith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 14.5%Lowest 35.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.3 miHighest 5.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.28Highest 1.55Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Belcourt (31%)Belcourt (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 9% work in Rolla3% work in Dunseith
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.8 miLowest 2.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.8 miLowest 1.9 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 52.3Lowest 65.9Highest
Schools
School district DUNSEITH 1MT PLEASANT 4
High school in town Dunseith High SchoolMt. Pleasant High School
Students per teacherat that high school 9.3Lowest 10.2Highest
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.

Dunseith neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dunseith’s Town Square.

Rolla neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Rolla’s Town Square.

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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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