1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cavalier County household earns $69,531, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Cavalier County
- Housing costs in Cavalier County
- What Cavalier County households earn
- How Cavalier County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Cavalier County
- The counties around Cavalier County
- Room for a loan payment in Cavalier County
- Local borrowing considerations for Cavalier County
- Cavalier County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Cavalier County
- Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Cavalier County
Cavalier County is home to about 3,633 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 31st most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. It covers 1,489 square miles of land, or about 2 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Cavalier County is not part of any metropolitan area. Langdon is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 1,782 people (49% of the county total). Because Cavalier County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Housing costs in Cavalier County
A typical Cavalier County rental runs $786 a month including utilities, which is 18% below North Dakota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. Home values center on $125,800, or 1.8 years of median income. 81% of Cavalier County households own their home and 19% rent.
| Cost | Cavalier County | North Dakota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $786/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $125,800 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 7% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.4% | 6.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 12% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Cavalier 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
What Cavalier County households earn
The median household income in Cavalier County is $69,531; statewide it is $76,657, so Cavalier County runs 9% below North Dakota as a whole. That places it 30th among North Dakota's 53 county-level areas.
| Household income | Cavalier County | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | +1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.2% | -3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.3% | +2.7 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.5% of Cavalier County residents in poverty, against 10.8% across North Dakota. None of these numbers decides a Cavalier County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Cavalier County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Cavalier County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (21%). Compared with North Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (23% against 8%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 74% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Cavalier County workers | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 23.0% | +15.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Cavalier County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Cavalier County residents live in one of the 11. Live in one of these Cavalier County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langdon | city | 1,782 | $64,286 | $786 | 4 mi |
| Munich | city | 257 | $78,563 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Osnabrock | city | 115 | $19,479 | $1,053 | 16 mi |
| Milton | city | 43 | $43,819 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Alsen | city | 39 | $84,688 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Nekoma | city | 22 | $104,375 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Calio | city | 14 | $164,000 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Loma | city | 6 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Calvin | city | 5 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Hannah | city | 4 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Wales | city | 2 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
The counties around Cavalier County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cavalier County's, from 36 to 63 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Cavalier County; Walsh County is highest at $71,944 and Rolette County lowest at $59,517.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier County | - | $69,531 | $786/mo | 81% |
| Towner County, ND | 36 mi | $67,350 | $757/mo | 79% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 37 mi | $61,006 | $714/mo | 55% |
| Pembina County, ND | 42 mi | $68,393 | $684/mo | 75% |
| Walsh County, ND | 43 mi | $71,944 | $748/mo | 76% |
| Nelson County, ND | 60 mi | $67,193 | $582/mo | 75% |
| Rolette County, ND | 63 mi | $59,517 | $505/mo | 63% |
Room for a loan payment in Cavalier County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cavalier County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $69,531 a year is $5,794 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $786, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,706 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $786, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Cavalier County
Based on the Cavalier County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Tight rental budgets. With 54% of Cavalier County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Cavalier County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Cavalier County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.1% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cavalier County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Steps before you apply in Cavalier County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cavalier County:
- Price the Cavalier County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
Before sharing details with a lender, a Cavalier County resident can confirm its license with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Cavalier County earn?
The median is $69,531; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Cavalier County?
$786 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Which towns does the Cavalier County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Langdon, Munich, Osnabrock, Milton, Alsen.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Cavalier County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Cavalier County?
Start with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.