1st Advantage MortgageThe median Burke County household earns $91,591, and 6% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Burke County by the numbers
- Employment and commuting in Burke County
- Income in Burke County compared with North Dakota
- Burke County housing compared with North Dakota
- Burke County towns compared
- Burke County and the counties next door
- More Burke County figures
- What the numbers mean for Burke County borrowers
- A Burke County household budget, worked through
- North Dakota rules that apply in Burke County
- Four steps for Burke County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Burke County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Burke County's population at 2,156; only 43 of North Dakota's 53 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,104 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.0 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Burke County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Bowbells is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 355 people (16% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Burke County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Employment and commuting in Burke County
The biggest employer of Burke County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 21% of workers, followed by education and health care (19%). Compared with North Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (21% against 8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.7% in Burke County. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Sector | Burke County | Compared with North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.0% | +13.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.8% | -7.0 pts |
| Public administration | 16.5% | +11.8 pts |
| Construction | 11.1% | +4.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.2% | -5.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Burke County compared with North Dakota
At $91,591, the typical Burke County household income is 39% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 3 North Dakota counties post a higher median.
| Band | Burke County | Compared with North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.5% | -3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.8% | -6.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.9% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 19.8% | +10.2 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 47% have six-figure incomes. 5.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.445 here. A household earning below the $91,591 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Burke County housing compared with North Dakota
A typical Burke County rental runs $684 a month including utilities, which is 28% below North Dakota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 23% of renter households here. With a median value of $158,100, a typical Burke County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 75%. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Home costs | Burke County | North Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $684/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,100 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 23% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 21% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Burke County towns compared
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 48% of Burke County residents live in one of the 7. Live in one of these Burke County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowbells | city | 355 | $66,250 | $600 | 13 mi |
| Powers Lake | city | 301 | $79,397 | $1,092 | 16 mi |
| Lignite | city | 167 | $77,083 | $581 | 7 mi |
| Portal | city | 129 | $115,642 | $674 | 14 mi |
| Columbus | city | 67 | $88,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Flaxton | city | 16 | $23,500 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Larson | CDP | 10 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Burke County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Renville County at 40 miles out to Bottineau County at 77. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Burke County; Divide County is highest at $91,852 and Renville County lowest at $74,301.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burke County | - | $91,591 | $684/mo | 75% |
| Renville County, ND | 40 mi | $74,301 | $828/mo | 79% |
| Mountrail County, ND | 40 mi | $80,717 | $950/mo | 62% |
| Divide County, ND | 45 mi | $91,852 | $1,105/mo | 77% |
| Williams County, ND | 54 mi | $85,595 | $1,123/mo | 53% |
| Ward County, ND | 60 mi | $78,238 | $1,048/mo | 61% |
| Bottineau County, ND | 77 mi | $85,000 | $796/mo | 79% |
More Burke County figures
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. 4.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Burke County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.8% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 9.9% |
What the numbers mean for Burke County borrowers
Where the Burke County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Higher earners. 47% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Burke County borrower sees (free reports).
A Burke County household budget, worked through
Burke County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Burke County: $7,633
- 9% goes to median rent ($684)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $2,064 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $684, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
North Dakota rules that apply in Burke County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Burke County resident can confirm its license with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the North Dakota state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Burke County borrowers
Quick steps for Burke County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Dakota.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Burke County?
$91,591 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 4th of 53 in the state.
What do renters pay in Burke County?
$684 a month at the median, about 9% of median household income.
Does this page cover Bowbells?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Burke County, such as Powers Lake, Lignite, Portal.
Can Burke 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Burke County residents?
The North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in North Dakota; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.