In North Dakota, the median household income is $76,657 and 63% of homes are owner-occupied (ACS 2020 to 2024). A safe personal loan starts with a license check, three written offers compared on total cost, and a payment that fits your own budget.
On this page
- North Dakota by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for North Dakota borrowers
- Largest places in North Dakota
- The next 20 places in North Dakota
- Counties with the most residents
- How North Dakota earns a living
- More context for North Dakota budgets
- Checking a lender in North Dakota
- Can North Dakota residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in North Dakota
- Frequently asked questions
North Dakota by the numbers
Sixteen budget-related measures for North Dakota, set against the national figure and ranked from highest to lowest among the 51 jurisdictions (Census Bureau ACS, 2020 to 2024).
| Measure | North Dakota | Nation | Place among 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $76,657 | $80,734 | 28th |
| Home value to income ratio | 3.3x | 4.1x | 38th |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 8% | 17% | 48th |
| Working from home | 8% | 15% | 49th |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 33% | 36% | 31st |
| Age, median | 35.9 | 38.9 | 47th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.457 | 0.483 | 35th |
| Households earning under $35,000 | 22% | 21% | 24th |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 37% | 41% | 29th |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 12.5% | 32nd |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 2.8% | 5.2% | 51st |
| Median gross rent per month | $954 | $1,413 | 47th |
| Rent-burdened renters (30%+) | 39% | 51% | 51st |
| Home value, median | $249,900 | $332,700 | 36th |
| Homes owner-occupied | 63% | 65% | 45th |
| Cost-burdened owners with a mortgage | 21% | 28% | 48th |
What the numbers mean for North Dakota borrowers
Long commutes of 45 minutes or more affect 8% of North Dakota workers, which ranks 48th of 51. A long drive also means more wear, so a repair fund of even a few hundred dollars can keep a breakdown from becoming a loan.
Over 2020 to 2024, 2.8% of the North Dakota labor force was unemployed on average in the ACS, against 5.2% nationally; the poverty rate was 10.8%. If your job is seasonal or hourly, lenders may ask for more months of statements to see a steady pattern.
Housing for renters: median rent of $954 (47th of 51), with 39% of renting households putting 30 percent or more of income toward it. For a renter, the safest loan is the smallest one that fixes the problem, sized to what is left after rent.
Ranked by median household income, North Dakota comes in 28th with $76,657, 5% below the country's $80,734. Think of the median as the budget a typical offer is written for; if yours is tighter, borrow less.
Largest places in North Dakota
Where most North Dakota residents live: the 12 largest cities, towns and census-designated places, with the latest five-year Census figures.
| City or town | County | Population | Median income | Median gross rent | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | Cass County | 131,627 | $66,998 | $946 | $281,900 |
| Bismarck | Burleigh County | 75,556 | $78,387 | $999 | $300,300 |
| Grand Forks | Grand Forks County | 59,042 | $63,627 | $980 | $249,900 |
| Minot | Ward County | 47,791 | $73,219 | $973 | $257,100 |
| West Fargo | Cass County | 40,094 | $90,665 | $1,111 | $321,900 |
| Williston | Williams County | 28,056 | $79,381 | $1,122 | $286,200 |
| Dickinson | Stark County | 25,357 | $82,696 | $957 | $263,700 |
| Mandan | Morton County | 24,522 | $71,780 | $1,083 | $259,800 |
| Jamestown | Stutsman County | 15,787 | $56,554 | $773 | $199,800 |
| Wahpeton | Richland County | 8,010 | $62,750 | $751 | $171,300 |
| Devils Lake | Ramsey County | 7,308 | $43,220 | $711 | $164,900 |
| Valley City | Barnes County | 6,541 | $60,339 | $780 | $162,200 |
West Fargo ($90,665) and Grand Forks ($63,627) mark the high and low ends of median household income among North Dakota places with at least 20,000 residents. 9 places top 10,000 people; 3 top 50,000. Williston renters pay the most ($1,122 at the median) and Fargo renters the least ($946).
The next 20 places in North Dakota
Continuing down the population list from Watford City to Hillsboro.
| City or town | Residents | Median household income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watford City | 6,039 | $102,260 | $1,336 |
| Minot AFB | 4,878 | $62,500 | $1,431 |
| Horace | 4,588 | $138,578 | $2,146 |
| Lincoln | 4,381 | $87,652 | $950 |
| Grafton | 4,102 | $62,679 | $733 |
| Beulah | 3,040 | $76,848 | $1,075 |
| Casselton | 2,953 | $73,259 | $814 |
| New Town | 2,721 | $52,500 | $851 |
| Rugby | 2,481 | $50,365 | $853 |
| Hazen | 2,453 | $79,609 | $918 |
| Lisbon | 2,259 | $64,327 | $649 |
| Bottineau | 2,205 | $65,905 | $840 |
| Carrington | 2,168 | $77,171 | $778 |
| Stanley | 2,097 | $109,573 | $1,144 |
| Grand Forks AFB | 1,987 | $72,782 | $1,626 |
| Mayville | 1,976 | $55,735 | $854 |
| Oakes | 1,858 | $67,632 | $843 |
| Langdon | 1,782 | $64,286 | $786 |
| Surrey | 1,721 | $106,438 | n/a |
| Hillsboro | 1,704 | $81,483 | $639 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Minot AFB (27%) and least in Hillsboro (9%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 53 counties in North Dakota, these 16 have the most people.
| County | Population | Median income | Median rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 193,400 | $75,555 | $958 | $298,000 |
| Burleigh County | 100,600 | $86,851 | $998 | $324,000 |
| Grand Forks County | 72,923 | $68,075 | $992 | $252,700 |
| Ward County | 68,973 | $78,238 | $1,048 | $267,100 |
| Williams County | 39,555 | $85,595 | $1,123 | $284,800 |
| Morton County | 33,777 | $79,382 | $1,076 | $263,900 |
| Stark County | 33,302 | $84,449 | $960 | $271,700 |
| Stutsman County | 21,549 | $61,856 | $774 | $208,400 |
| Richland County | 16,584 | $75,432 | $740 | $183,600 |
| McKenzie County | 14,321 | $93,404 | $1,284 | $349,600 |
| Rolette County | 11,924 | $59,517 | $505 | $103,800 |
| Ramsey County | 11,556 | $61,006 | $714 | $199,300 |
| Barnes County | 10,773 | $68,038 | $779 | $173,700 |
| Walsh County | 10,396 | $71,944 | $748 | $132,700 |
| McLean County | 9,823 | $83,583 | $784 | $227,100 |
| Mountrail County | 9,507 | $80,717 | $950 | $232,700 |
The county income gap: $97,689 at the top in Dunn County, $42,083 at the bottom in Sioux County. Check the row for your own county before you decide what payment is comfortable.
How North Dakota earns a living
The jobs mix in North Dakota: the four largest industries by share of employed residents 16 and older.
| Industry | Share of North Dakota workers | U.S. share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 26% | 24% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | +0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining | 8% | 2% | +6.4 pts |
| Arts, entertainment, lodging and food service | 8% | 9% | -0.8 pts |
Relative to the nation, agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining is overrepresented in North Dakota (8% vs 2%). If your income comes from self-employment or gig work, gather two years of tax returns and recent bank statements before you compare offers.
More context for North Dakota budgets
With a median age of 35.9 and 33% of adults holding a four-year degree, North Dakota has a Gini inequality index of 0.457, ranking 35th from most to least unequal.
North Dakota is a renter-heavy state for homeownership: 63% of occupied homes are owned, against 65% nationally. The median value of $249,900 equals 3.3 years of median income. The owner cost burden rate, for households with a mortgage, is 21%. An unsecured loan keeps the house out of the deal, which is worth something even when a home-equity line is cheaper.
Incomes are spread unevenly: 22% of North Dakota households earn under $35,000 (U.S.: 21%), while 37% earn $100,000 or more (U.S.: 41%) and 10% top $200,000. Higher earners still need to compare offers: a large income does not make an expensive loan a good deal.
Checking a lender in North Dakota
A two-minute check protects you: look the lender up before you share a Social Security number. In North Dakota the banking agency named by CSBS is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.
- NMLS Consumer Access shows many lenders' licenses state by state.
- Legitimate lenders take fees out of the loan or bill them later, never by gift card or wire first (FTC).
- Complaints can go to the state agency and to the CFPB.
Can North Dakota residents use the questionnaire?
Partner coverage varies by state. If no lending partner is accepting North Dakota matches yet, the questionnaire says so on the location step and offers an email waitlist instead of asking for anything else. The guides and calculators work for everyone.
Local guides in North Dakota
No North Dakota city has its own guide yet, but the city search covers every Census place in the state and sends you to the closest page we have.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a lender in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions is the banking agency named by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. Many lenders' state licenses also appear on NMLS Consumer Access, and the CFPB takes complaints nationwide.
What do households in North Dakota earn?
About $76,657. Half of North Dakota households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
Is rent high in North Dakota?
Median gross rent is $954 a month, and 39% of renter households spend 30 percent or more of income on rent (ACS 2020 to 2024). Nationally the figures are $1,413 and 51%.
How many North Dakota residents live below the poverty line?
10.8% in the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, compared with 12.5% nationally. Households under strain should look at free options, such as hardship plans and nonprofit counseling, before a loan.