1st Advantage MortgageThe median Grant County household earns $57,875, and 17% 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
- Grant County at a glance
- Housing costs in Grant County
- Household income in Grant County
- Jobs and commutes in Grant County
- The communities that make up Grant County
- How Grant County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Grant County's medians
- More Grant County figures
- What the numbers mean for Grant County borrowers
- A Grant County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Grant County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Grant County at a glance
With an estimated 2,269 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Grant County ranks 41st of 53 in North Dakota for population. Land area is 1,659 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Grant County, Elgin leads by population with about 585; 4 of the 6 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Grant County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Housing costs in Grant County
Renters in Grant County pay a median of $675 a month, 29% below the North Dakota figure of $954. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 62% of renter households here. With a median value of $93,200, a typical Grant County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 83% of Grant County households own their home and 17% rent.
| Grant County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $675/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $93,200 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 62% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.6% | 6.6% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Grant 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.
Household income in Grant County
Grant County households have a median income of $57,875 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 51st of 53 in North Dakota.
| Household income | Grant County | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.9% | +14.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.5% | -3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.1% | -8.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -2.1 pts |
About 36% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. 16.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.512 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Grant County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Grant County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Grant County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 24% in education and health care. 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 Grant County averages 3.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). About 63% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Grant County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 26.5% | +18.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 24.4% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.5% | +1.8 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Grant County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Grant County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 1,140 residents, leaving about 50% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Grant County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin | city | 585 | $35,188 | $650 | 10 mi |
| Carson | city | 316 | $43,750 | $631 | 6 mi |
| New Leipzig | city | 181 | $55,000 | $828 | 15 mi |
| Leith | city | 30 | $73,125 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Raleigh | CDP | 20 | $88,125 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Heil | CDP | 8 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
How Grant County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 29 to 55 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Morton County leads the group on income ($79,382), Sioux County trails ($42,083), and Grant County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | - | $57,875 | $675/mo | 83% |
| Morton County, ND | 29 mi | $79,382 | $1,076/mo | 74% |
| Sioux County, ND | 32 mi | $42,083 | $444/mo | 47% |
| Hettinger County, ND | 39 mi | $73,026 | $785/mo | 77% |
| Adams County, ND | 46 mi | $62,500 | $594/mo | 72% |
| Corson County, SD | 51 mi | $46,406 | $496/mo | 59% |
| Oliver County, ND | 55 mi | $77,240 | $756/mo | 95% |
Debt-to-income at Grant County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Grant County's medians:
- Start: $4,823 gross per month ($57,875 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $675, takes 14% of that
- $1,254: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Grant County figures
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Grant County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Grant County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 11.8% |
What the numbers mean for Grant County borrowers
Where the Grant County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Mobile home upkeep. 19% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Grant County's median age is 48.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 62% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Grant County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Grant County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Dakota borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Grant County residents
Consumer lenders serving Grant County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Dakota that is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Grant County?
$57,875 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 51st of 53 in the state.
What do renters pay in Grant County?
$675 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Should Grant County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 83% of Grant County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Grant County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Elgin, Carson, New Leipzig, Leith, Raleigh.
Will a Grant County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming North Dakota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.