1st Advantage MortgageIn Divide County, North Dakota, the typical household earns $91,852 a year and the typical rent is $1,105. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Dakota license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Divide County
- Renting and owning in Divide County
- What Divide County households earn
- How Divide County residents earn a living
- The counties around Divide County
- Places inside Divide County
- Room for a loan payment in Divide County
- What the numbers mean for Divide County borrowers
- Who lives in Divide County, in numbers
- Before you sign
- North Dakota rules that apply in Divide County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Divide County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Divide County's population at 2,167; only 42 of North Dakota's 53 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,261 square miles of land, or about 2 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Crosby is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,065 people (49% of the county total). Because Divide County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Divide County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,105 in Divide County versus $954 statewide. By the Census definition, 17% of Divide County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $167,600, a typical Divide County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Divide County households own their home and 23% rent. Median construction year: 1963.
| Housing | Divide County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,105/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $167,600 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 17% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 12% | n/a |
Because most Divide County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
What Divide County households earn
Divide County households have a median income of $91,852 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 3rd of 53 in North Dakota.
| Income band | Share in Divide County | Difference from North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.0% | -4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.0% | -4.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.7% | +8.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | +0.6 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 46% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.3%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.397 here. None of these numbers decides a Divide County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Divide County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Divide County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 26% of workers, followed by education and health care (25%). 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 Divide County averages 2.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). About 76% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Divide County share | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 26.2% | +18.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 25.4% | -0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.9% | +3.1 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.3% | -2.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Divide County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Divide County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Divide County's, from 32 to 77 miles away. McKenzie County leads the group on income ($93,404), Roosevelt County trails ($57,063), and Divide County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Montana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Divide County resident follows North Dakota rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divide County | - | $91,852 | $1,105/mo | 77% |
| Williams County, ND | 32 mi | $85,595 | $1,123/mo | 53% |
| Burke County, ND | 45 mi | $91,591 | $684/mo | 75% |
| Sheridan County, MT | 47 mi | $70,147 | $746/mo | 72% |
| Mountrail County, ND | 67 mi | $80,717 | $950/mo | 62% |
| McKenzie County, ND | 74 mi | $93,404 | $1,284/mo | 53% |
| Roosevelt County, MT | 77 mi | $57,063 | $705/mo | 67% |
Places inside Divide 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 60% of Divide County residents live in one of the 4. Live in one of these Divide County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby | city | 1,065 | $82,500 | $900 | 12 mi |
| Noonan | city | 163 | $125,625 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Fortuna | city | 41 | $2,499 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Ambrose | city | 33 | $116,042 | n/a | 10 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Divide County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Divide County's medians:
- Start: $7,654 gross per month ($91,852 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,105, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,651: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Divide County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Divide County borrowers
Where the Divide County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Divide County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 50, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 46% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
Who lives in Divide County, in numbers
27% of Divide County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Divide County | North Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.7% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.0% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Divide County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 67.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 8.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Dakota borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
North Dakota rules that apply in Divide County
Divide County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
Related local guides
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Divide County a high-income county?
Its $91,852 median ranks 3rd of 53 North Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Divide County rent compare with North Dakota?
$1,105 locally versus $954 for the state, 16% above.
Should Divide County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Divide County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Crosby?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Divide County, such as Noonan, Fortuna, Ambrose.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Divide County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.