1st Advantage MortgageBowman County households have a median income of $72,109 and median rent of $765 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Bowman County, ND: the basics
- Income in Bowman County compared with North Dakota
- Renting and owning in Bowman County
- The Bowman County job picture
- Places inside Bowman County
- The counties around Bowman County
- What a median Bowman County budget can carry
- Bowman County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Bowman County borrowers
- Four steps for Bowman County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Bowman County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bowman County, ND: the basics
Bowman County is home to about 2,906 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 35th most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. Land area is 1,162 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Bowman County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Bowman, with about 1,499 residents, or 52% of the county. With so few households sampled, Bowman County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Bowman County compared with North Dakota
Bowman County households have a median income of $72,109 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 27th of 53 in North Dakota.
| Yearly household income | Bowman County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.4% | -4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.5% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.7% | +4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -5.2 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.4% of Bowman County residents in poverty, against 10.8% across North Dakota. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.374 here. None of these numbers decides a Bowman County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Bowman County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $765 in Bowman County versus $954 statewide. By the Census definition, 19% of Bowman County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $164,900, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 83%. Half the housing stock was built before 1972.
| Bowman County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $765/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $164,900 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 19% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 21% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bowman 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.
The Bowman County job picture
The biggest employer of Bowman County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 26% of workers, followed by education and health care (22%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 26% locally and 8% for North Dakota. The survey's unemployment rate for Bowman County averages 3.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bowman County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 25.7% | +17.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.0% | -2.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.0% | -0.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Places inside Bowman County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 72% of Bowman County residents live in one of the 4. Live in one of these Bowman County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowman | city | 1,499 | $62,786 | $713 | 7 mi |
| Scranton | city | 387 | $79,750 | $779 | 18 mi |
| Rhame | city | 184 | $61,429 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Gascoyne | city | 28 | $153,750 | n/a | 20 mi |
The counties around Bowman County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 59 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Bowman County; Harding County is highest at $80,441 and Adams County lowest at $62,500. The list crosses into Montana, South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowman County | - | $72,109 | $765/mo | 83% |
| Slope County, ND | 23 mi | $71,250 | $525/mo | 81% |
| Harding County, SD | 36 mi | $80,441 | $521/mo | 77% |
| Fallon County, MT | 45 mi | $76,250 | $779/mo | 69% |
| Adams County, ND | 47 mi | $62,500 | $594/mo | 72% |
| Hettinger County, ND | 55 mi | $73,026 | $785/mo | 77% |
| Golden Valley County, ND | 59 mi | $68,021 | $638/mo | 80% |
What a median Bowman County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bowman County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,009 gross per month ($72,109 / 12)
- Median rent: $765, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,639: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $765, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Bowman County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. 7.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Bowman County | All of North Dakota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.0% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 62.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
What the numbers mean for Bowman County borrowers
Based on the Bowman County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Bowman County borrower sees (free reports).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Bowman County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Four steps for Bowman County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Bowman County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bowman County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for Bowman County
Bowman County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on North Dakota: North Dakota personal loans.
Related local guides
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bowman County?
$72,109 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 27th of 53 in the state.
How does Bowman County rent compare with North Dakota?
$765 locally versus $954 for the state, 20% below.
What are the biggest places in Bowman County?
By population: Bowman, Scranton, Rhame, Gascoyne. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Bowman County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Bowman County check a lender's license?
With the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.