1st Advantage MortgageBillings County households have a median income of $86,806 and median rent of $621 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Dakota license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Billings County
- Jobs and commutes in Billings County
- What Billings County households earn
- Billings County housing compared with North Dakota
- Counties near Billings County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Billings County
- Debt-to-income at Billings County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Billings County
- More Billings County figures
- Four steps for Billings County borrowers
- North Dakota rules that apply in Billings County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Billings County
Billings County is home to about 1,024 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 52nd most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. It covers 1,148 square miles of land, with fewer than one resident per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Billings County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Medora, with about 198 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, Billings County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Jobs and commutes in Billings County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Billings County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 18% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 27% locally and 8% for North Dakota. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.1% in Billings County. About 70% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 2.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Billings County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 26.9% | +18.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.1% | -7.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.6% | +4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Other services | 6.8% | +2.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Billings County households earn
The median household income in Billings County is $86,806; statewide it is $76,657, so Billings County runs 13% above North Dakota as a whole. Only 7 North Dakota counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Billings County | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.2% | -3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.1% | -6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.1% | +7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.5% | +1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 47% of Billings County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 10.8%, the same as the state's 10.8%. A household earning below the $86,806 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Billings County housing compared with North Dakota
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $621 in Billings County versus $954 statewide. 11% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 2% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $331,000, about 3.8 times the median household income. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Median construction year: 1983.
| Housing | Billings County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $621/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $331,000 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 11% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 21% | n/a |
Because most Billings County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Counties near Billings County
Distances run center to center, from Golden Valley County at 23 miles out to McKenzie County at 51. Dunn County leads the group on income ($97,689), Wibaux County trails ($67,462), and Billings County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Montana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings County | - | $86,806 | $621/mo | 78% |
| Golden Valley County, ND | 23 mi | $68,021 | $638/mo | 80% |
| Stark County, ND | 36 mi | $84,449 | $960/mo | 67% |
| Slope County, ND | 39 mi | $71,250 | $525/mo | 81% |
| Dunn County, ND | 43 mi | $97,689 | $922/mo | 74% |
| Wibaux County, MT | 43 mi | $67,462 | $963/mo | 72% |
| McKenzie County, ND | 51 mi | $93,404 | $1,284/mo | 53% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Billings County
Just one Census place, Medora, lies mainly within Billings County; it holds about 198 people. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medora | city | 198 | $77,969 | $625 | 10 mi |
Debt-to-income at Billings County's medians
Billings County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $7,234 a month: gross income for a household at the Billings County median
- Housing at the median rent of $621 uses 9%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,490 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Billings County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Billings County
A few patterns in the Billings County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 47% of Billings County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
More Billings County figures
33% of Billings County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.0%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| Indicator | Billings County | All of North Dakota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.6% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.8% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
Four steps for Billings County borrowers
Quick steps for Billings County:
- Price the Billings County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Dakota borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
North Dakota rules that apply in Billings County
The North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's North Dakota license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on North Dakota: North Dakota personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Billings County?
$86,806 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 8th of 53 in the state.
How much is rent in Billings County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $621 a month; 11% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Billings County?
By population: Medora. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Are Billings County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Billings County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Dakota it is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.