Velva, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Velva, North Dakota had a total population of 1,083, the 48th largest city in North Dakota, with a median household income of $83,060, which is 8% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.6%.
Velva Quick Facts
How Velva Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 997 | 1,083 | +8.6% |
| Median household income | $81,354 | $83,060 | +2.1% |
| Median home value | $208,700 | $194,600 | -6.8% |
How Velva Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 32 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Velva Rankings in North Dakota
Explore North Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in McHenry County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towner | 467 | $49,500 | 15.4% | $78,400 |
| Anamoose | 309 | $78,750 | 19.4% | $87,000 |
| Drake | 300 | $46,000 | 21.3% | $75,600 |
| Granville | 278 | $82,500 | 9.0% | $94,200 |
| Upham | 102 | N/A | 9.8% | $53,800 |
| Deering | 68 | $88,125 | 1.5% | $120,800 |
| Karlsruhe | 62 | N/A | 6.5% | $102,500 |
| Voltaire | 43 | N/A | 0.0% | $211,400 |
| Bantry | 5 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Balfour | 3 | N/A | 66.7% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Velva
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby | 1,065 | $82,500 | $115,400 | 11.0% | 0.0% |
| Burlington | 1,067 | $77,708 | $243,500 | 15.8% | 3.0% |
| Northwood | 1,046 | $78,571 | $208,200 | 32.8% | 4.7% |
| Killdeer | 985 | $89,750 | $341,100 | 25.9% | 9.4% |
| Enderlin | 985 | $74,625 | $148,600 | 14.0% | 12.5% |
Population Overview
Velva is a small community located in North Dakota, within McHenry County. The total population is 1,083. It ranks as the 48th most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Velva is 35.4 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 35.9 years. With 29.5% of the population under 18, Velva has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Velva is $83,060. This is 8% higher than the state median of $76,657. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 24% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $194,600. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Velva is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 62.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
Velva has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.
Education
20.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 32.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Velva, North Dakota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Dakota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all North Dakota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Velva, North Dakota?
Velva, North Dakota has a population of 1,083 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Velva, ND?
The median household income in Velva is $83,060, which is 3% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Velva, ND?
The poverty rate in Velva is 8.2%. This means approximately 85 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Velva, North Dakota?
Velva's population is 90.0% White, 0.0% Black, 2.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Velva, ND?
The median home value in Velva is $194,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.
How educated is Velva, North Dakota?
20.5% of adults (25+) in Velva hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.