1st Advantage MortgageDunn County households have a median income of $97,689 and median rent of $922 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Dunn County
- Household income in Dunn County
- Housing costs in Dunn County
- How Dunn County residents earn a living
- The counties around Dunn County
- The communities that make up Dunn County
- A Dunn County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Dunn County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Dunn County
- Lender oversight for Dunn County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Dunn County
Roughly 4,040 residents live in Dunn County, North Dakota, 26th by population among the state's 53 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 2,008 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (4 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Killdeer, with about 985 residents, or 24% of the county. With so few households sampled, Dunn County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Household income in Dunn County
At $97,689, the typical Dunn County household income is 49% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 1st among North Dakota's 53 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Dunn County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.7% | -5.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.3% | -5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.7% | +3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.3% | +7.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 48% of Dunn County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. Census counts 7.4% of Dunn County residents in poverty, against 10.8% across North Dakota. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.488 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Dunn County
Renters in Dunn County pay a median of $922 a month, 3% below the North Dakota figure of $954. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 12% of renter households here. Home values center on $275,000, or 2.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Median construction year: 1983.
| Home costs | Dunn County | North Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $922/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $275,000 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 12% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 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).
How Dunn County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Dunn County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 23% locally and 8% for North Dakota. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 17% work from home. 2.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Dunn County workers | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 22.6% | +14.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.0% | -10.7 pts |
| Construction | 10.7% | +3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -3.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The counties around Dunn County
Distances run center to center, from Mercer County at 37 miles out to Mountrail County at 60. None of the six report a higher median household income than Dunn County; McKenzie County is highest at $93,404 and Mountrail County lowest at $80,717.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunn County | - | $97,689 | $922/mo | 74% |
| Mercer County, ND | 37 mi | $80,946 | $1,031/mo | 81% |
| Stark County, ND | 37 mi | $84,449 | $960/mo | 67% |
| Billings County, ND | 43 mi | $86,806 | $621/mo | 78% |
| McKenzie County, ND | 46 mi | $93,404 | $1,284/mo | 53% |
| McLean County, ND | 59 mi | $83,583 | $784/mo | 84% |
| Mountrail County, ND | 60 mi | $80,717 | $950/mo | 62% |
The communities that make up Dunn County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Dunn County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 1,855 people, so roughly 54% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Dunn County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killdeer | city | 985 | $89,750 | $893 | 6 mi |
| Halliday | city | 389 | $51,154 | $981 | 13 mi |
| Dunn Center | city | 329 | $93,750 | $979 | 0 mi |
| Dodge | city | 109 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Manning | CDP | 43 | $190,893 | n/a | 11 mi |
A Dunn County household budget, worked through
Here is the Dunn County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $8,141 a month: gross income for a household at the Dunn County median
- Less median rent of $922, which is 11% of it
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,579 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Dunn County, in numbers
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 14.8%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| Indicator | Dunn County | All of North Dakota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.2% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.8% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.0% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Dunn County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Dunn County
A few patterns in the Dunn County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 15% of Dunn County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 18% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Dunn County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 23% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Consolidation math. With 48% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
Lender oversight for Dunn County
Consumer lenders serving Dunn County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Dakota that is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The North Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Dunn County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A North Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Dunn County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dunn County household make?
About $97,689 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 27% above the North Dakota median.
What do renters pay in Dunn County?
$922 a month at the median, about 11% of median household income.
I own my home in Dunn County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Dunn County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Killdeer, Halliday, Dunn Center, Dodge, Manning.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Dunn County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.