1st Advantage MortgageThe median Eddy County household earns $50,850, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Eddy County at a glance
- How much Eddy County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Eddy County
- Housing costs in Eddy County
- The communities that make up Eddy County
- Eddy County next to its neighbors
- A Eddy County household budget, worked through
- Eddy County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Eddy County
- Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
- Before you sign
- More guides for Eddy County
- Frequently asked questions
Eddy County at a glance
Eddy County is home to about 2,307 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 39th most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. It covers 630 square miles of land, or about 4 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Eddy County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 2 Census places inside Eddy County, New Rockford leads by population with about 1,260; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. Because Eddy County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How much Eddy County households make
Half of Eddy County households take in less than $50,850 a year and half take in more, 34% below the North Dakota median of $76,657.
| Households earning | Eddy County | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +9.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.2% | -8.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -4.1 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.2%, 3 points higher than the state's 10.8%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Eddy County median.
Jobs and commutes in Eddy County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 18% locally and 8% for North Dakota. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Eddy County share | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -5.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.2% | +10.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.4% | +2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Other services | 6.2% | +1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Eddy County
Renters in Eddy County pay a median of $590 a month, 38% below the North Dakota figure of $954. By the Census definition, 15% of Eddy County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $124,000, or 2.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 72%. Median construction year: 1966.
| Measure | Eddy County | North Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $590/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $124,000 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 15% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 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).
The communities that make up Eddy County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Eddy County residents live in one of the 2. No Eddy County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Rockford | city | 1,260 | $43,600 | $587 | 11 mi |
| Sheyenne | city | 198 | $46,615 | $438 | 12 mi |
Eddy County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 38 miles). Foster County leads the group on income ($87,831), Ramsey County trails ($61,006), and Eddy County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddy County | - | $50,850 | $590/mo | 72% |
| Foster County, ND | 17 mi | $87,831 | $780/mo | 80% |
| Benson County, ND | 32 mi | $64,033 | $588/mo | 73% |
| Nelson County, ND | 35 mi | $67,193 | $582/mo | 75% |
| Griggs County, ND | 36 mi | $61,711 | $573/mo | 77% |
| Wells County, ND | 38 mi | $66,114 | $648/mo | 77% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 38 mi | $61,006 | $714/mo | 55% |
A Eddy County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Eddy County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $50,850 a year is $4,238 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $590, which is 14% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,105 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Eddy County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Eddy County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Eddy County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.5% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Eddy County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 11.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Before borrowing in Eddy County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Eddy County borrowers.
- Older households. A 47.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
The North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's North Dakota license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on North Dakota: North Dakota personal loans.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Eddy County:
- Price the Eddy County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Eddy County
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Eddy County?
$50,850 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 52nd of 53 in the state.
Is Eddy County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $590 against $954 statewide, and 15% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Eddy County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Eddy County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers New Rockford, Sheyenne.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Eddy County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.