Hotel Berry · National Register of Historic Places
Velva’s story
129 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1897Velva is settled
VelvaND
A town of 1,083, settled in 1897. Public schools that outperform most of North Dakota.
Photo: Elcajonfarms at en.wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
Population
1,083
+0.2% since 2010
Median home value
$195K
Census ACS
Household income
$83K
median
Median age
35.4
years
Jobs based here
414
Balanced
What makes Velva stand out
The thing Velva does most differently from other towns.
Small town
1,083 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Velva’s report card
Now in Velva
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Velva? Is a B+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Velva’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Velva. Another town gets a different order.
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 4% of U.S. communities.
4risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
15
paid flood claims since 1979
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Velva has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 1°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
41″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter4–22°
Spring29–52°
Summer55–80°
Fall32–54°
Sep 22
typical first frost
May 22
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Schools
Velva’s public schools outperform 65% of North Dakota districts
The public schools Velva’s kids attend outperform 65% of North Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velva Elementary School | PK–6 | 217 | B+ |
| Velva High School | 7–12 | 222 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ND on state testsAll 2 schools →
Work & commute
About one in six working residents works right in Velva
Most working residents leave Velva for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Minot (23%), Bismarck (10%) and Fargo (4%). Half commute less than 27 miles.
16%work in town
Where working residents work
In Velva16%
Minot23%
Bismarck10%
Fargo4%
Harvey4%
27 mi
median commute distance
414
jobs based in Velva
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
Healthier than 49% of U.S. towns
Velva beats the North Dakota average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8.
B−Health Grade
32 measures vs. North Dakota
0 better24 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Velva | ND |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 7.7% | 5.9% |
| More adults who get no exercise | 26.9% | 21.8% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 3.8% | 3.1% |
Trinity Hospitals
20.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
18th
percentile among ND towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
Homes in Velva sell for about $170K
The median sale price was $170,000 in May 2026.
$170Kmedian sale price
3
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Landmarks
2 places in Velva on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Velva
City in North Dakota, United States
Velva is a city in McHenry County, North Dakota, United States. Part of the Minot Metropolitan Statistical Area, it was founded in 1897 and the population was 1,086 at the 2020 census. Southeast of Minot, Velva is at the southernmost point of the Souris River. Since Velva is about 20 miles away from the nearby city Minot, Velva has had a slight steady increase of population, which makes Velva a nearby bedroom community for Minot. Velva is home to the first invention of Dot's pretzels, also home to a section of Dot's Pretzels Headquarters.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1897
- Population
- 1,086
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,512 ft
- ZIP code
- 58790
- Area code
- 701