1st Advantage MortgageAbout 79% of Bottineau County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $85,000. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Bottineau County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Bottineau County
- How much Bottineau County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Bottineau County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bottineau County
- How Bottineau County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the Bottineau County median
- More Bottineau County figures
- Before borrowing in Bottineau County
- Lender oversight for Bottineau County
- Checklist for Bottineau County applicants
- More guides for Bottineau County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Bottineau County
Roughly 6,378 residents live in Bottineau County, North Dakota, 20th by population among the state's 53 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,669 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Bottineau is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 2,205 people (35% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Bottineau County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Rent, home values and ownership in Bottineau County
Renters in Bottineau County pay a median of $796 a month, 17% below the North Dakota figure of $954. 21% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 11% spend half or more. With a median value of $193,200, a typical Bottineau County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 79% of Bottineau County households own their home and 21% rent.
| Housing | Bottineau County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $796/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $193,200 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 21% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 32% | 12% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bottineau County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How much Bottineau County households make
Half of Bottineau County households take in less than $85,000 a year and half take in more, 11% above the North Dakota median of $76,657. In the state ranking that is 10th of 53.
| Household income | Bottineau County | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.8% | +2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.8% | +1.1 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 41% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.6%, 3 points lower than the state's 10.8%. None of these numbers decides a Bottineau County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Bottineau County
The biggest employer of Bottineau County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). Compared with North Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (15% against 8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.6% in Bottineau County. About 78% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bottineau County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | -0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.4% | +7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -1.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Other services | 8.1% | +3.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bottineau County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Bottineau County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 3,390 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. No Bottineau County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottineau | city | 2,205 | $65,905 | $840 | 18 mi |
| Westhope | city | 435 | $69,479 | $596 | 12 mi |
| Willow City | city | 238 | $74,375 | $689 | 28 mi |
| Lansford | city | 216 | $72,500 | $860 | 27 mi |
| Newburg | city | 67 | $90,781 | $485 | 7 mi |
| Maxbass | city | 56 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Landa | city | 52 | $140,227 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Souris | city | 38 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Gardena | city | 37 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Kramer | city | 21 | $78,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Antler | city | 15 | $45,417 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Overly | city | 10 | n/a | n/a | 32 mi |
How Bottineau County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Renville County at 38 miles out to Towner County at 73. Income ranges from $59,365 in Pierce County to $80,733 in McHenry County; none of these neighbors top Bottineau County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottineau County | - | $85,000 | $796/mo | 79% |
| Renville County, ND | 38 mi | $74,301 | $828/mo | 79% |
| McHenry County, ND | 40 mi | $80,733 | $713/mo | 81% |
| Rolette County, ND | 45 mi | $59,517 | $505/mo | 63% |
| Ward County, ND | 51 mi | $78,238 | $1,048/mo | 61% |
| Pierce County, ND | 55 mi | $59,365 | $850/mo | 82% |
| Towner County, ND | 73 mi | $67,350 | $757/mo | 79% |
Budget math at the Bottineau County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Bottineau County's medians:
- Start: $7,083 gross per month ($85,000 / 12)
- Median rent: $796, or 11 cents of every gross dollar
- $2,037: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Bottineau County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Bottineau County figures
30% of Bottineau County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.4%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| Measure | Bottineau County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.4% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bottineau County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
Before borrowing in Bottineau County
A few patterns in the Bottineau County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Higher earners. 41% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Lender oversight for Bottineau County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bottineau County borrowers answers to the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the North Dakota state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Bottineau County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Bottineau County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bottineau County a high-income county?
Its $85,000 median ranks 10th of 53 North Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Bottineau County rent compare with North Dakota?
$796 locally versus $954 for the state, 17% below.
Which towns does the Bottineau County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Bottineau, Westhope, Willow City, Lansford, Newburg.
Will a Bottineau County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming North Dakota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Bottineau County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Dakota it is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.