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Cavalier County, North Dakota
A shallow water table limits basements on 79% of Cavalier County's mapped land, a higher share than 88% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 26%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 72% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1968.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Cavalier County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 26.4% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 79.3% |
| Septic fields very limited | 78.8% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 4.9% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 31.3% |
| Mapped soil | 966,400 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Hamerly | 18% | n/a |
| Svea | 9% | n/a |
| Tonka | 8% | n/a |
| Vallers | 7% | n/a |
| Cresbard | 7% | n/a |
| Balaton | 7% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas ND019 (2026-05-04)
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 4.9% by land area here, and 31% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 26% of the mapped land.
On 79% of Cavalier County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 19.27 in, 1.50 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 20.77 in.
USDA rates 79% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 2 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 2 weeks, most recently on the September 1, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Cavalier County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 20.77 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 19.27 in (-1.50) |
| 2025 | 17.99 in (-2.78) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2010: 27.91 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1988: 10.37 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at LANGDON EXP FARM (5 mi away) | 3.9 |
Homes
| Housing units | 2,109 |
| Median year built | 1968 |
| Built before 1980 | 72% |
| Built 2000 or later | 9% |
| Owner-occupied | 81% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $125,800 |
| Single-family detached | 79% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towner County, ND | 36 mi | 12% | 94% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 37 mi | 24% | 85% |
| Pembina County, ND | 42 mi | 29% | 94% |
| Walsh County, ND | 43 mi | 21% | 80% |
| Nelson County, ND | 60 mi | 19% | 71% |
| Rolette County, ND | 63 mi | 19% | 62% |
| Benson County, ND | 63 mi | 12% | 69% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 75 mi | 9% | 83% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (May 4, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status