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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lycanthrope" data-source="post: 480320" data-attributes="member: 562">My initial reaction was, "have you been to belcourt?" but figured I better do some research to see if my instinct was accurate...Finding a town in North Dakota that is exactly like Devils Lake but "worse" is tricky because, statistically, Devils Lake already sits at the high end for both poverty and crime for its size.With a population of around 7,200, Devils Lake is the 11th largest city in the state. However, it often ranks #1 for poverty among the state's larger towns (with a rate of ~24%) and has a crime rate significantly higher than the state average.If you are looking for towns that share its challenges but perhaps feel even more "rough" due to isolation or lack of local industry, here are the closest comparisons:<h3>1. Belcourt & New Town (The "Rougher" Comparison)</h3>While smaller than Devils Lake, these towns are often cited when discussing high poverty and crime in the state.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Belcourt: Much smaller (pop. ~1,500), but has a poverty rate near 30%. Because it is the hub for the Turtle Mountain Reservation, it faces similar systemic economic struggles to Devils Lake (which is the hub for Spirit Lake) but with fewer resources and retail options.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">New Town: Historically an oil boom town (pop. ~2,700), it has a high poverty rate (~23%) and has struggled with the "boom and bust" cycle of the Bakken, leading to transient populations and crime issues that can make it feel more unsettled than Devils Lake.</li> </ul><h3>2. Wahpeton (The Peer Comparison)</h3>Wahpeton is the closest town to Devils Lake in actual size (pop. ~8,000).<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Vibe: It is generally considered "nicer" or more stable because of the North Dakota State College of Science and its proximity to the Fargo metro area.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why it's a match: If you find Devils Lake "rough," Wahpeton is its direct demographic rival. It has its own issues with aging infrastructure and manufacturing shifts, but usually lacks the high violent crime stats seen in Devils Lake.</li> </ul><h3>3. Grafton (The "Faded" Comparison)</h3>Located about 60 miles east of Devils Lake, Grafton (pop. ~4,000) is smaller but feels similar.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Poverty/Crime: It has a significant poverty rate and, like Devils Lake, has seen its "glory days" as a major regional hub fade. It can feel more "run down" because it lacks the tourism/fishing economy that gives Devils Lake a seasonal boost.</li> </ul><hr /><h3>Comparison at a Glance</h3> <table style='width: 100%'><tr><td>City</td><td>Population</td><td>Poverty Rate</td><td>Key Difference from Devils Lake</td></tr><tr><td>Devils Lake</td><td>~7,200</td><td>~24%</td><td>Regional hub with strong fishing/tourism.</td></tr><tr><td>Wahpeton</td><td>~8,000</td><td>~15%</td><td>More industrial; benefits from "Fargo creep."</td></tr><tr><td>Grafton</td><td>~4,000</td><td>~14%</td><td>More agricultural; feels smaller/quieter.</td></tr><tr><td>Belcourt</td><td>~1,500</td><td>~29%</td><td>H</td></tr></table></blockquote>

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