1st Advantage MortgageThe median McHenry County household earns $80,733, and 10% 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
- McHenry County at a glance
- Household income in McHenry County
- Work, industries and travel time in McHenry County
- McHenry County housing compared with North Dakota
- McHenry County towns compared
- Regional comparison for McHenry County
- What a median McHenry County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for McHenry County borrowers
- People and households in McHenry County
- Steps before you apply in McHenry County
- Lender oversight for McHenry County
- More guides for McHenry County
- Frequently asked questions
McHenry County at a glance
McHenry County is home to about 5,207 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 23rd most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. It covers 1,874 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Minot, ND metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (12 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Velva, with about 1,083 residents, or 21% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every McHenry County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Household income in McHenry County
At $80,733, the typical McHenry County household income is 23% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 14th of 53.
| Households earning | McHenry County | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.5% | +1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | -1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.9% | +2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -1.9 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. 9.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.408 here. For a borrower in McHenry 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.
Work, industries and travel time in McHenry County
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. 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, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. 3.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | McHenry County share | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 23.0% | +15.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.5% | -2.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +2.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in McHenry County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
McHenry County housing compared with North Dakota
Renters in McHenry County pay a median of $713 a month, 25% below the North Dakota figure of $954. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 25% of renter households here. With a median value of $151,000, a typical McHenry County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 81% of McHenry County households own their home and 19% rent. The median home was built in 1966, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | McHenry County | North Dakota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $713/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $151,000 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 25% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 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).
McHenry County towns compared
Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 52% of McHenry County residents live in one of the 13. Live in one of these McHenry County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velva | city | 1,083 | $83,060 | $769 | 18 mi |
| Towner | city | 467 | $49,500 | $450 | 13 mi |
| Anamoose | city | 309 | $78,750 | $725 | 30 mi |
| Drake | city | 300 | $46,000 | $700 | 25 mi |
| Granville | city | 278 | $82,500 | $820 | 10 mi |
| Upham | city | 102 | n/a | $554 | 24 mi |
| Deering | city | 68 | $88,125 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Karlsruhe | city | 62 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Voltaire | city | 43 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Bantry | CDP | 5 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Balfour | city | 3 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Bergen | city | 1 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Kief | city | 0 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for McHenry County
Six nearby counties, 31 to 54 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $59,365 in Pierce County to $85,000 in Bottineau County; 2 of these neighbors top McHenry County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McHenry County | - | $80,733 | $713/mo | 81% |
| Pierce County, ND | 31 mi | $59,365 | $850/mo | 82% |
| Bottineau County, ND | 40 mi | $85,000 | $796/mo | 79% |
| Ward County, ND | 42 mi | $78,238 | $1,048/mo | 61% |
| Sheridan County, ND | 47 mi | $62,639 | $373/mo | 84% |
| Rolette County, ND | 52 mi | $59,517 | $505/mo | 63% |
| McLean County, ND | 54 mi | $83,583 | $784/mo | 84% |
What a median McHenry County budget can carry
McHenry County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, McHenry County: $6,728
- Rent at the median, $713, takes 11% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,709 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,180 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for McHenry County borrowers
Based on the McHenry County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 20% of McHenry County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
People and households in McHenry County
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. 8.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| McHenry County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.3% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.8% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 12.8% |
Steps before you apply in McHenry County
Before you apply, wherever you live in McHenry County:
- Price the McHenry County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Dakota.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for McHenry County
Consumer lenders serving McHenry 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. See the North Dakota state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for McHenry County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in McHenry County?
$80,733 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 14th of 53 in the state.
How does McHenry County rent compare with North Dakota?
$713 locally versus $954 for the state, 25% below.
Does this page cover Velva?
Yes, along with the other 12 Census places in McHenry County, such as Towner, Anamoose, Drake.
Is the fit check different in McHenry County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in McHenry County check a lender's license?
With the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.