Center is a city in Oliver County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of, and the only incorporated place in Oliver County. The population was 588 at the 2020 census. Center along with Oliver County is included in the Bismarck metropolitan area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code58530

Area code701

Living in Center

Housing in Center

$230K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $230,000 in May 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Center

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Center for work: only 13% work in town. The top destinations are Bismarck (24%), Mandan (7%) and Washburn (5%). Half commute less than 30 miles.

Bismarck

24%

Mandan

Washburn

Hazen

13%Work in townlive and work in Center 30 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 202Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Center →

Health in Center

Compared with North Dakota

3better than ND·4worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 25 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▼ 8 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs 1▲ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.4%Fewer adults without reliable transportationND 6.5% · better 86.9%More adults getting cholesterol checkedND 82.7% · better 10.2%More adults who have had cancerND 8.2% · worse

Care nearby

Sakakawea Medical Center - CahHazen · 19.5 mi · ER · rural critical access

Coal Country Chc - CenterCenter · 0.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Center · CMS · HRSAHealth in Center →

Natural hazards in Center

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 86% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🧊 Hail

2Does Center flood?paid flood claims since 1979 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Center

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Center →

Climate in Center

Full climate →

Center has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

25° / 6°Winter

53° / 30°Spring

80° / 54°Summer

55° / 32°Fall

How much snow does Center get?About 45 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 29, with the last in spring around May 11.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Center →

Schools in Center

All Center schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Center’s kids attend trail 80% of North Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictCENTER-STANTON 1Schools2

Center-Stanton Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 146 students Center-Stanton High School CHigh · Grades 7–12 · 119 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within ND. Ratings are from neighbors.