1st Advantage MortgageIn Mercer County, North Dakota, the typical household earns $80,946 a year and the typical rent is $1,031. 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
- Who lives in Mercer County
- Renting and owning in Mercer County
- Income in Mercer County compared with North Dakota
- Work, industries and travel time in Mercer County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mercer County
- Counties near Mercer County
- Budget math at the Mercer County median
- Mercer County households compared
- Before borrowing in Mercer County
- Who licenses lenders for Mercer County residents
- A Mercer County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Mercer County
Roughly 8,337 residents live in Mercer County, North Dakota, 17th by population among the state's 53 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,043 square miles of land, or about 8 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mercer County is not part of any metropolitan area. Beulah is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 3,040 people (36% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Mercer County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Renting and owning in Mercer County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,031 in Mercer County versus $954 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. With a median value of $198,500, a typical Mercer County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 81% of Mercer County households own their home and 19% rent.
| Home costs | Mercer County | North Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,031/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $198,500 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 12% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.4% | 6.6% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Mercer 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Income in Mercer County compared with North Dakota
The median household income in Mercer County is $80,946; statewide it is $76,657, so Mercer County runs 6% above North Dakota as a whole. That places it 13th among North Dakota's 53 county-level areas.
| Band | Mercer County | Compared with North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.1% | -2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | -0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.6% | +6.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 40% of Mercer County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. 9.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.400 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Mercer 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 Mercer County
The biggest employer of Mercer County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by transportation, warehousing and utilities (13%). Compared with North Dakota, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (13% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Mercer County averages 2.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Mercer County share | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -5.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 13.2% | +7.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.4% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +3.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.5% | +0.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mercer County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Mercer County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 6,565 people, so roughly 21% of residents live outside any named place. No Mercer 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beulah | city | 3,040 | $76,848 | $1,075 | 4 mi |
| Hazen | city | 2,453 | $79,609 | $918 | 10 mi |
| Stanton | city | 470 | $68,750 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Golden Valley | city | 258 | $80,625 | $1,313 | 11 mi |
| Zap | city | 200 | $95,000 | $1,275 | 5 mi |
| Pick City | city | 144 | $58,438 | $692 | 23 mi |
Counties near Mercer County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (27 to 64 miles). Income ranges from $77,240 in Oliver County to $97,689 in Dunn County; 3 of these neighbors top Mercer County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | - | $80,946 | $1,031/mo | 81% |
| Oliver County, ND | 27 mi | $77,240 | $756/mo | 95% |
| McLean County, ND | 31 mi | $83,583 | $784/mo | 84% |
| Dunn County, ND | 37 mi | $97,689 | $922/mo | 74% |
| Morton County, ND | 48 mi | $79,382 | $1,076/mo | 74% |
| Stark County, ND | 52 mi | $84,449 | $960/mo | 67% |
| Ward County, ND | 64 mi | $78,238 | $1,048/mo | 61% |
Budget math at the Mercer County median
Mercer County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Mercer County: $6,746
- Less median rent of $1,031, which is 15% of it
- $1,330: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $2,004 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Mercer County households compared
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Mercer County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
Before borrowing in Mercer County
A few patterns in the Mercer County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Higher earners. 40% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Tight rental budgets. With 55% of Mercer County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Who licenses lenders for Mercer County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Mercer County resident can confirm its license with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
A Mercer County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Dakota borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Mercer County?
$80,946 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 13th of 53 in the state.
What do renters pay in Mercer County?
$1,031 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Mercer County?
By population: Beulah, Hazen, Stanton, Golden Valley, Zap. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Can Mercer County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Dakota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Mercer County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Dakota it is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.