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Compare towns

Kenmare vs Ashley

222 miles apart. The biggest differences: home values (2× in Kenmare) and trails (4.3× in Kenmare).

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Kenmare, NDOne of the healthiest townsNorth Dakota · 1,002 people
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Ashley, NDA history townNorth Dakota · 599 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.

KenmareOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 77%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 28%of ND districts All about Kenmare →
AshleyA history town
HistorySettled in 18881 place on the National Register All about Ashley →
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.

Home values2×
Homes cost more in Kenmare
Kenmare $115,500Ashley $58,900
Trails4.3×
Kenmare has more miles of trail
Kenmare 1.3 miAshley 0.3 mi
Household income+51%
Households in Kenmare earn more
Kenmare $64,077Ashley $42,540
Property tax bill+54%
Tax bills are bigger in Kenmare
Kenmare $1,223Ashley $794
Average commute7 min
Ashley has the shorter commute
Kenmare 16 minAshley 9 min
Street grid+67%
Ashley has the more walkable street grid
Ashley 127Kenmare 76.1
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,140 more a month in Kenmare

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.

Kenmare$1,510/mo
Typical home $247K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.06% · or rent about $768/mo · Housing →
Ashley$380/mo
Typical home $59K (Census) · tax rate 1.35% · or rent about $711/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,140 a month, about $13,700 a year, between Kenmare and Ashley.

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
CKenmareBetter than 28% of districts in the state BAshleyBetter than 61% of districts in the state
Health
A−KenmareHealthier than 77% of U.S. towns –AshleyNot 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
KenmareAshley
Snow a year—42″
January low—1°F
July high—81°F
Growing season (days)—137d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)10th51st
Outdoors & history
KenmareAshley
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land1.4%0%
Settled18971888
National Register places—1
Archive photos1118
Famous people born here—1
Community
KenmareAshley
Library hours a week21 hrs7 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

222 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

KenmareNDAshleyND
Kenmare ↔ Ashley222 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.

KenmareAshley
People
Population 1,002Highest 599Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -12.3%Highest ND: +15.8% -18.2%Lowest ND: +15.8%
Median age 56.9±6.5Lowest 58% above ND 60.3±5.1Highest 68% above ND
Ashley and Kenmare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 10.6%±3.5Lowest ND: 23.5% 11.2%±3.7Highest ND: 23.5%
Ashley and Kenmare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 35.3%±6.4Lowest ND: 16.5% 42.9%±5.2Highest ND: 16.5%
Ashley and Kenmare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.3%Highest ND: 32.7% 15.4%Lowest ND: 32.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.9%±2.9Highest ND: 7.6% 2%±1.9Lowest ND: 7.6%
Kenmare and Ashley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $64,077±$7kHighest 16% below ND $42,540±$5kLowest 45% below ND
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $115,500±$10kHighest 54% below ND $58,900±$25kLowest 76% below ND
Rentmedian gross, monthly $768±$51Highest 19% below ND $711±$160Lowest 25% below ND
Kenmare and Ashley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,223Highest 50% below ND $794Lowest 68% below ND
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 18.2%±22.9Lowest ND: 38.9% 27.6%±22.9Highest ND: 38.9%
Ashley and Kenmare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 8%Lowest ND: 10.8% 13.2%Highest ND: 10.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 75.7%Highest ND: 62.9% 72.6%Lowest ND: 62.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1962Highest 20 yrs older than ND 1953Lowest 29 yrs older than ND
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minHighest 11% below ND 9 minLowest 48% below ND
Work from home 4.3%±3.6Lowest ND: 8.1% 11.8%±8.3Highest ND: 8.1%
Ashley and Kenmare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 23.9%Highest 22.5%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 47.3 miHighest 17.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.98Lowest 1.28Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Minot (21%)Wishek (34%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in AshleyFew work in Kenmare
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.4%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.3 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.0 miHighest 0.5 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 76.1Lowest 127Highest
Schools
School district KENMARE 28ASHLEY 9
High school in town Kenmare High SchoolAshley High School
Students per teacherat that high school 20.3Highest 6.5Lowest
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.

Kenmare neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Kenmare’s Town Square.

Ashley neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ashley’s Town Square.

Add a town

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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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