1st Advantage MortgageThe median Burleigh County household earns $86,851, and 8% 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
- A quick profile of Burleigh County
- Income in Burleigh County compared with North Dakota
- What it costs to live in Burleigh County
- Jobs and commutes in Burleigh County
- Regional comparison for Burleigh County
- Places inside Burleigh County
- A Burleigh County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Burleigh County
- Who lives in Burleigh County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Burleigh County
- Four steps for Burleigh County borrowers
- More guides for Burleigh County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Burleigh County
With an estimated 100,600 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Burleigh County ranks 2nd of 53 in North Dakota for population. Packed into 1,633 square miles, that is close to 62 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Bismarck, ND metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Bismarck is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 75,556 people (75% of the county total).
Income in Burleigh County compared with North Dakota
Burleigh County households have a median income of $86,851 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 7th of 53 in North Dakota.
| Income band | Share in Burleigh County | Difference from North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.5% | -4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.6% | -1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.1% | +3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.8% | +2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 43% of Burleigh County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. Census counts 7.9% of Burleigh County residents in poverty, against 10.8% across North Dakota. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Burleigh County median.
What it costs to live in Burleigh County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $998 in Burleigh County versus $954 statewide. By the Census definition, 39% of Burleigh County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $324,000, or 3.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 71%. Median construction year: 1988.
| Home costs | Burleigh County | North Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $998/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $324,000 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.0% | 6.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 12% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Burleigh County
The biggest employer of Burleigh County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). Public administration stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.3% in Burleigh County. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Burleigh County workers | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Burleigh County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Burleigh County
Distances run center to center, from Kidder County at 35 miles out to Wells County at 56. Morton County leads the group on income ($79,382), Sheridan County trails ($62,639), and Burleigh County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burleigh County | - | $86,851 | $998/mo | 71% |
| Kidder County, ND | 35 mi | $65,610 | $853/mo | 76% |
| Oliver County, ND | 42 mi | $77,240 | $756/mo | 95% |
| Sheridan County, ND | 42 mi | $62,639 | $373/mo | 84% |
| Morton County, ND | 44 mi | $79,382 | $1,076/mo | 74% |
| Emmons County, ND | 49 mi | $66,538 | $568/mo | 80% |
| Wells County, ND | 56 mi | $66,114 | $648/mo | 77% |
Places inside Burleigh County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Burleigh County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 81,276 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. Lincoln has the highest median household income on the list ($87,652) and Bismarck the lowest ($78,387), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Burleigh County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | city | 75,556 | $78,387 | $999 | 18 mi |
| Lincoln | city | 4,381 | $87,652 | $950 | 18 mi |
| Wilton | city | 607 | $80,000 | $838 | 19 mi |
| Apple Valley | CDP | 279 | $111,136 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Wing | city | 207 | $63,750 | $513 | 14 mi |
| Menoken | CDP | 102 | $116,250 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Regan | city | 85 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Driscoll | CDP | 59 | $46,389 | n/a | 18 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Burleigh County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Burleigh County's medians:
- $86,851 a year is $7,238 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $998, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,608 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $3,112 total minus rent leaves $2,114
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Burleigh County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Burleigh County borrowers.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 43% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Who lives in Burleigh County, in numbers
College graduates make up 39% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| Indicator | Burleigh County | All of North Dakota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.1% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.1% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.6% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
Licensing and complaints for Burleigh County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Burleigh County, check the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The North Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Burleigh County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Burleigh County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the North Dakota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Burleigh County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Burleigh County?
$86,851 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 7th of 53 in the state.
Is Burleigh County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $998 against $954 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Burleigh County?
By population: Bismarck, Lincoln, Wilton, Apple Valley, Wing. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Are Burleigh 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Burleigh 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.