1st Advantage MortgageAbout 71% of Barnes County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $68,038. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in North Dakota before sharing details.
On this page
- Barnes County at a glance
- The Barnes County job picture
- How much Barnes County households make
- What it costs to live in Barnes County
- The communities that make up Barnes County
- Barnes County and the counties next door
- People and households in Barnes County
- Reading the Barnes County data as a borrower
- A Barnes County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
- Checklist for Barnes County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Barnes County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Barnes County's population at 10,773; only 12 of North Dakota's 53 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,492 square miles, that works out to roughly 7.2 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Barnes County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (14 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Valley City, with about 6,541 residents, or 61% of the county.
The Barnes County job picture
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 10%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 10% locally and 7% for North Dakota. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Barnes County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | +2.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.1% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Barnes County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Barnes County households make
The median household income in Barnes County is $68,038; statewide it is $76,657, so Barnes County runs 11% below North Dakota as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Barnes County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.1% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.7% | -2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | +0.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -4.7 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. 12.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.477 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Barnes County median.
What it costs to live in Barnes County
A typical Barnes County rental runs $779 a month including utilities, which is 18% below North Dakota. By the Census definition, 35% of Barnes County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $173,700, or 2.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Median construction year: 1966.
| Measure | Barnes County | North Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $779/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $173,700 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 6.6% | n/a |
The communities that make up Barnes County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 14 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 74% of Barnes County residents live in one of the 14. Live in one of these Barnes County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley City | city | 6,541 | $60,339 | $780 | 3 mi |
| Tower City | city | 304 | $108,958 | $788 | 19 mi |
| Oriska | city | 231 | $123,194 | $535 | 13 mi |
| Litchville | city | 185 | $33,281 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Fingal | city | 174 | $56,944 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Wimbledon | city | 159 | $107,857 | $625 | 24 mi |
| Sanborn | city | 103 | $80,875 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Kathryn | city | 77 | $80,156 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Dazey | city | 62 | $43,000 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Nome | city | 49 | $72,500 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Rogers | city | 26 | $76,042 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Leal | city | 23 | $70,500 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Sibley | city | 20 | $46,875 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Pillsbury | city | 10 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
Barnes County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (36 to 42 miles). LaMoure County leads the group on income ($80,664), Griggs County trails ($61,711), and Barnes County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes County | - | $68,038 | $779/mo | 71% |
| Griggs County, ND | 36 mi | $61,711 | $573/mo | 77% |
| Cass County, ND | 39 mi | $75,555 | $958/mo | 52% |
| Steele County, ND | 39 mi | $77,500 | $738/mo | 78% |
| LaMoure County, ND | 39 mi | $80,664 | $766/mo | 84% |
| Ransom County, ND | 40 mi | $75,736 | $691/mo | 75% |
| Stutsman County, ND | 42 mi | $61,856 | $774/mo | 63% |
People and households in Barnes County
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. 4.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Barnes County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.7% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Barnes County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Reading the Barnes County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Barnes County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
A Barnes County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Barnes County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $68,038 a year is $5,670 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $779 uses 14%
- $1,489: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
Before sharing details with a lender, a Barnes County resident can confirm its license with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the North Dakota state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Barnes County applicants
A short checklist for Barnes County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Barnes County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Barnes County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Barnes County household make?
About $68,038 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 11% below the North Dakota median.
How much is rent in Barnes County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $779 a month; 35% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Valley City?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Barnes County, such as Tower City, Oriska, Litchville.
Can Barnes County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Dakota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Barnes County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Dakota it is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.