1st Advantage MortgageKidder County households have a median income of $65,610 and median rent of $853 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Kidder County
- What Kidder County households earn
- How Kidder County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Kidder County
- Kidder County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Kidder County
- Kidder County households compared
- Reading the Kidder County data as a borrower
- What a median Kidder County budget can carry
- A Kidder County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Kidder County
- More guides for Kidder County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Kidder County
Roughly 2,377 residents live in Kidder County, North Dakota, 38th by population among the state's 53 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,351 square miles of land, or about 2 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Kidder County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Steele, with about 757 residents, or 32% of the county. Because Kidder County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Kidder County households earn
The median household income in Kidder County is $65,610; statewide it is $76,657, so Kidder County runs 14% below North Dakota as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Kidder County | Difference from North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.5% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.5% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.8% | -8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -4.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Kidder County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 10.2%, 1 point lower than the state's 10.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.431 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $65,610 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Kidder County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Kidder County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 14% in education and health care. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 25% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Kidder County averages 1.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 22% work from home. 1.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Kidder County workers | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 24.7% | +16.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.5% | -11.2 pts |
| Construction | 11.6% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.6% | +0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Kidder County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Kidder County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $853 in Kidder County versus $954 statewide. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. With a median value of $156,600, a typical Kidder County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Kidder County households own their home and 24% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1970.
| Kidder County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $853/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $156,600 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.7% | 6.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 30% | 12% | 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).
Kidder County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 34 to 53 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Burleigh County leads the group on income ($86,851), Stutsman County trails ($61,856), and Kidder County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kidder County | - | $65,610 | $853/mo | 76% |
| Logan County, ND | 34 mi | $62,750 | $838/mo | 83% |
| Burleigh County, ND | 35 mi | $86,851 | $998/mo | 71% |
| Stutsman County, ND | 37 mi | $61,856 | $774/mo | 63% |
| Wells County, ND | 44 mi | $66,114 | $648/mo | 77% |
| Emmons County, ND | 51 mi | $66,538 | $568/mo | 80% |
| Sheridan County, ND | 53 mi | $62,639 | $373/mo | 84% |
Towns and communities in Kidder County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Kidder County residents live in one of the 6. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steele | city | 757 | $65,329 | $824 | 10 mi |
| Tappen | city | 295 | $50,417 | $640 | 7 mi |
| Dawson | city | 72 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Tuttle | city | 70 | $45,156 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Pettibone | city | 65 | $42,813 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Robinson | city | 50 | $51,250 | n/a | 14 mi |
Kidder County households compared
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 2.3%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| Residents | Kidder County | North Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.2% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.0% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.3% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 22.1% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.5% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Kidder County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Reading the Kidder County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Kidder County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 16% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
What a median Kidder County budget can carry
Kidder County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $65,610 a year is $5,468 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $853, takes 16% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,115 a month
If your rent is above $853, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
A Kidder County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Kidder County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Kidder County-area credit union.
- A North Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Kidder County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Kidder County resident can confirm its license with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
More guides for Kidder County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Kidder County earn?
The median is $65,610; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Kidder County rent compare with North Dakota?
$853 locally versus $954 for the state, 11% below.
Should Kidder County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Kidder 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 Steele?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Kidder County, such as Tappen, Dawson, Tuttle.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Kidder County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.