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Oakes vs Bowman

254 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (2.4× in Bowman) and growth since 2010 (+7.8 pts in Oakes).

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Oakes, NDHomes around $181KNorth Dakota · 1,858 people

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Bowman, NDHomes around $203KNorth Dakota · 1,499 people

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.

OakesHomes around $181K

Housing$181K typical home38% below the ND typical home SchoolsBetter than 75%of ND districts

HistorySettled in 18864 places on the National Register All about Oakes →

BowmanHomes around $203K

Housing$203K typical home31% below the ND typical home HealthHealthier than 70%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 30%of ND districts All about Bowman →

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.

Bowman has more miles of trail

Bowman 1.9 miOakes 0.8 mi

Growth since 2010+7.8 pts

Oakes has grown faster since 2010

Oakes -3.1%Bowman -10.9%

Property tax bill+27%

Tax bills are bigger in Oakes

Oakes $1,787Bowman $1,402

★ 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.

Safety

–OakesNot graded B+BowmanSafer than 69% of U.S. towns

Schools

A−OakesBetter than 75% of districts in the state CBowmanBetter than 30% of districts in the state

Health

BOakesHealthier than 56% of U.S. towns B+BowmanHealthier than 70% of U.S. towns

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Down paymentRate%

Oakes$1,120/mo

Typical home $181K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.12% · or rent about $843/mo · Housing →

Bowman$1,200/mo

Typical home $203K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.80% · or rent about $713/mo · Housing →

The difference: $80 a month, about $1,000 a year, between Bowman and Oakes.

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.

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

OakesBowman

Snow a year37″48″

January low2°F 7°F

July high82°F 83°F

Growing season (days)141d 132d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th 5th

Outdoors & history

OakesBowman

Trails1 mi 2 mi

Conserved land0%0%

Settled1886 1907

National Register places4 1

Archive photos—6

Community

OakesBowman

Library hours a week20 hrs 36 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

254 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

OakesND BowmanND

Oakes ↔ Bowman254 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.

Only big differences vs North Dakota average

OakesBowman

People

Population 1,858Highest 1,499Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -3.1%Highest ND: +15.8% -10.9%Lowest ND: +15.8%

Median age 38.8±2.2Lowest 8% above ND 39±1.8Highest 9% above ND

Bowman and Oakes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 25.3%±3.1Lowest ND: 23.5% 25.8%±3.5Highest ND: 23.5%

Bowman and Oakes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 20.3%±3.4Lowest ND: 16.5% 21.2%±4.1Highest ND: 16.5%

Bowman and Oakes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22.9%Lowest ND: 32.7% 29.2%Highest ND: 32.7%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.5%±1.9Lowest ND: 7.6% 3.2%±2.1Highest ND: 7.6%

Bowman and Oakes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $67,632±$20kHighest 12% below ND $62,786±$3kLowest 18% below ND

Oakes and Bowman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $159,700±$11kLowest 36% below ND $174,800±$14kHighest 30% below ND

Bowman and Oakes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $843±$232Highest 12% below ND $713±$70Lowest 25% below ND

Oakes and Bowman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,787Highest 28% below ND $1,402Lowest 43% below ND

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 47%±17.9Highest ND: 38.9% 13.4%±16.4Lowest ND: 38.9%

Oakes and Bowman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 12.1%Lowest ND: 10.8% 15.5%Highest ND: 10.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 77.1%Lowest ND: 62.9% 79.4%Highest ND: 62.9%

Typical home builtmedian year 1970Highest 12 yrs older than ND 1966Lowest 16 yrs older than ND

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 14 minHighest 21% below ND 12 minLowest 34% below ND

Work from home 8.9%±4.4Highest ND: 8.1% 3.2%±2.5Lowest ND: 8.1%

Oakes and Bowman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 36%Lowest 42.5%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.3 miHighest 1.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.76Lowest 1.14Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Gwinner (11%)Bowman Township (12%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BowmanFew work in Oakes

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miLowest 1.9 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 miLowest 1.0 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 81.5Highest 72.2Lowest

Schools

School district OAKES 41BOWMAN CO 1

High school in town Oakes High SchoolBowman Co High School

Students per teacherat that high school 15.2Highest 12.9Lowest

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.

Oakes neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Oakes’s Town Square.

Bowman neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bowman’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Oakes and Bowman

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Towns like Oakes

Washburn1,507 people · $238K homes

Rugby2,481 people · $132K homes

Beulah3,040 people · $203K homes

Velva1,083 people · $195K homes

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.