1st Advantage MortgageAbout 95% of Oliver County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $77,240. 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
- Who lives in Oliver County
- What Oliver County households earn
- What it costs to live in Oliver County
- How Oliver County residents earn a living
- Oliver County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Oliver County
- Budget math at the Oliver County median
- People and households in Oliver County
- Before borrowing in Oliver County
- Who licenses lenders for Oliver County residents
- Four steps for Oliver County borrowers
- More guides for Oliver County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Oliver County
Roughly 1,839 residents live in Oliver County, North Dakota, 47th by population among the state's 53 counties and county equivalents. It covers 722 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Bismarck, ND metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Center, with about 562 residents, or 31% of the county. With so few households sampled, Oliver County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What Oliver County households earn
The median household income in Oliver County is $77,240, close to the statewide $76,657. Only 20 North Dakota counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Oliver County | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.9% | -7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.7% | +7.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.1% | +4.4 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. 5.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.405 here. For a borrower in Oliver 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.
What it costs to live in Oliver County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $756 in Oliver County versus $954 statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $215,700, about 2.8 times the median household income. 95% of Oliver County households own their home and 5% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Measure | Oliver County | North Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $756/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $215,700 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 95% | 63% | 75% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 21% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Oliver 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.
How Oliver County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Oliver County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (14%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Oliver County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | -0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.1% | +6.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.1% | +5.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.2 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.
Oliver County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (27 to 57 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Oliver County; Burleigh County is highest at $86,851 and Grant County lowest at $57,875.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver County | - | $77,240 | $756/mo | 95% |
| Mercer County, ND | 27 mi | $80,946 | $1,031/mo | 81% |
| Morton County, ND | 28 mi | $79,382 | $1,076/mo | 74% |
| McLean County, ND | 37 mi | $83,583 | $784/mo | 84% |
| Burleigh County, ND | 42 mi | $86,851 | $998/mo | 71% |
| Grant County, ND | 55 mi | $57,875 | $675/mo | 83% |
| Sheridan County, ND | 57 mi | $62,639 | $373/mo | 84% |
The communities that make up Oliver County
Just one Census place, Center, lies mainly within Oliver County; it holds about 562 people. Live in one of these Oliver County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | city | 562 | $77,083 | n/a | 2 mi |
Budget math at the Oliver County median
Here is the Oliver County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,437 a month: gross income for a household at the Oliver County median
- Housing at the median rent of $756 uses 12%
- $1,561: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Oliver County
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Oliver County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.0% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
Before borrowing in Oliver County
Based on the Oliver County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Older households. A 46.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Who licenses lenders for Oliver County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Oliver County borrowers answers to the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
Four steps for Oliver County borrowers
Quick steps for Oliver County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Dakota borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Oliver County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oliver County a high-income county?
Its $77,240 median ranks 21st of 53 North Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Oliver County?
$756 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
I live in a small Oliver County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Center.
Will a Oliver 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Oliver County?
Start with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.