1st Advantage MortgageMorton County households have a median income of $79,382 and median rent of $1,076 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Morton County at a glance
- What Morton County households earn
- Renting and owning in Morton County
- Employment and commuting in Morton County
- The counties around Morton County
- Towns and communities in Morton County
- Who lives in Morton County, in numbers
- Reading the Morton County data as a borrower
- What a median Morton County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in Morton County
- North Dakota rules that apply in Morton County
- More guides for Morton County
- Frequently asked questions
Morton County at a glance
Roughly 33,777 residents live in Morton County, North Dakota, 6th by population among the state's 53 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 1,926 square miles, that works out to roughly 17.5 residents per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Bismarck, ND metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Mandan is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 24,522 people (73% of the county total).
What Morton County households earn
The median household income in Morton County is $79,382; statewide it is $76,657, so Morton County runs 4% above North Dakota as a whole. That places it 17th among North Dakota's 53 county-level areas.
| Band | Morton County | Compared with North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.2% | -3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.7% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.3% | +4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -1.8 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 40% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 8.0%, 3 points lower than the state's 10.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.463 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Morton 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.
Renting and owning in Morton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,076 in Morton County versus $954 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. Home values center on $263,900, or 3.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 74%. Median construction year: 1980.
| Measure | Morton County | North Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,076/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $263,900 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.8% | 6.6% | 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).
Employment and commuting in Morton County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Morton County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. Compared with North Dakota, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (11% against 8%). The survey's unemployment rate for Morton County averages 1.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Morton County share | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | -3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.4% | +3.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The counties around Morton County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 58 miles). Income ranges from $42,083 in Sioux County to $86,851 in Burleigh County; 2 of these neighbors top Morton County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morton County | - | $79,382 | $1,076/mo | 74% |
| Oliver County, ND | 28 mi | $77,240 | $756/mo | 95% |
| Grant County, ND | 29 mi | $57,875 | $675/mo | 83% |
| Sioux County, ND | 43 mi | $42,083 | $444/mo | 47% |
| Burleigh County, ND | 44 mi | $86,851 | $998/mo | 71% |
| Mercer County, ND | 48 mi | $80,946 | $1,031/mo | 81% |
| Hettinger County, ND | 58 mi | $73,026 | $785/mo | 77% |
Towns and communities in Morton County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Morton County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 27,283 residents, leaving about 19% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $71,780 at the median in Mandan, $50,357 in Glen Ullin. Median rent ranges from $750 in Glen Ullin to $1,083 in Mandan. No Morton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandan | city | 24,522 | $71,780 | $1,083 | 22 mi |
| New Salem | city | 780 | $69,519 | $871 | 11 mi |
| Glen Ullin | city | 701 | $50,357 | $750 | 26 mi |
| Hebron | city | 677 | $63,542 | $873 | 37 mi |
| Flasher | city | 222 | $44,583 | $575 | 18 mi |
| Harmon | CDP | 198 | $113,500 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Almont | city | 183 | $119,375 | n/a | 9 mi |
Who lives in Morton County, in numbers
29% of Morton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Morton County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.8% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.5% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Reading the Morton County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Morton County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 40% of Morton County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
What a median Morton County budget can carry
Here is the Morton County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $79,382 a year is $6,615 of gross monthly income
- 16% goes to median rent ($1,076)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,845 total minus rent leaves $1,769
If your rent is above $1,076, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Morton County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Morton County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Dakota borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
North Dakota rules that apply in Morton County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Morton County, check the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on North Dakota: North Dakota personal loans.
More guides for Morton County
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Morton County household make?
About $79,382 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 4% above the North Dakota median.
How does Morton County rent compare with North Dakota?
$1,076 locally versus $954 for the state, 13% above.
Does this page cover Mandan?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Morton County, such as New Salem, Glen Ullin, Hebron.
Will a Morton 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.
Is there a Morton County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Dakota it is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.