HomeNorth DakotaTowner County
Towner County, North Dakota
A shallow water table limits basements on 94% of Towner County's mapped land, a higher share than 98% of US counties and the 3rd highest of 53 North Dakota counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 12%.
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. 69% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1969.
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 Towner County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 12.3% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 93.6% |
| Septic fields very limited | 95.4% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 4.1% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 19.9% |
| Mapped soil | 666,600 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Hamerly | 14% | n/a |
| Balaton | 14% | n/a |
| Souris | 12% | n/a |
| Parnell | 8% | n/a |
| Tonka | 8% | n/a |
| Wyard | 8% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas ND095 (2025-09-02)
What the numbers mean here
On 94% of Towner 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: 15.65 in, 3.41 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 19.06 in.
USDA rates 95% 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 99.3% 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 Towner County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 19.06 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 15.65 in (-3.41) |
| 2025 | 15.24 in (-3.82) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1954: 27.23 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1934: 9.42 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at ROLLA 1NE (20 mi away) | 3.6 |
Homes
| Housing units | 1,255 |
| Median year built | 1969 |
| Built before 1980 | 69% |
| Built 2000 or later | 7% |
| Owner-occupied | 79% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $134,800 |
| Single-family detached | 80% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolette County, ND | 28 mi | 19% | 62% |
| Cavalier County, ND | 36 mi | 26% | 79% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 37 mi | 24% | 85% |
| Benson County, ND | 43 mi | 12% | 69% |
| Pierce County, ND | 45 mi | 8% | 68% |
| Eddy County, ND | 69 mi | 6% | 63% |
| McHenry County, ND | 71 mi | 9% | 73% |
| Nelson County, ND | 72 mi | 19% | 71% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 2, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status