1913 · Ray, N. Dak · Library of Congress
Ray’s story
124 years in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
- 1902Ray is settled
- 1913Ray, N. Dak
- 1914Ray, N. Dak
- 1937Drugstore
RayND
A town of 714, settled in 1902. A typical home worth about $223K.
Population
714
+25% since 2010
Typical home
$223K
+10.6% in a year
Household income
$72K
median
Median age
35.3
years
Jobs based here
234
A commuter town
What makes Ray stand out
The thing Ray does most differently from other towns.
Small town
714 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Ray’s report card
Now in Ray
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Ray? Is a B for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Ray’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ray. Another town gets a different order.
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 10% of U.S. communities.
10risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Ray
Most working residents leave Ray for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Williston (39%), Williston (6%) and Minot (5%). Half commute less than 25 miles.
6%work in town
Where working residents work
In Ray6%
Williston39%
Williston6%
Minot5%
Judson4%
25 mi
median commute distance
234
jobs based in Ray
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Ray home is worth about $223K
The typical Ray home is worth about $223,000, up 10.6% in a year, 24% below the North Dakota typical home.
$223KZillow home value
Typical home value
Ray$223K
North Dakota$292K
+10.6%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Ray has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 2°, and about 44 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–23°
Spring28–52°
Summer53–79°
Fall30–54°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 11
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Ray
No violent or property crimes were reported in Ray in 2023. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Ray is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
0
violent crimes reported in 2023
0
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
How healthy Ray is
Ray beats the North Dakota average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
32 measures vs. North Dakota
0 better31 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Ray | ND |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 16.6% | 13.1% |
Tioga Medical Center
11.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Ray’s public schools outperform 55% of North Dakota districts
The public schools Ray’s kids attend outperform 55% of North Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
BSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Elementary School | PK–8 | 324 | B |
| Ray High School | 9–12 | 119 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ND on state testsAll 2 schools →
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Ray for work
Where Ray’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
234jobs based in Ray
6%of working residents work in town
25 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Ray
City in North Dakota, United States
Ray is a city in Williams County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 740 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1902
- Population
- 740
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,274 ft
- ZIP code
- 58849
- Area code
- 701
More about Ray
Still missing for Ray:a photo of Rayupcoming events