1st Advantage MortgageIn Pembina County, North Dakota, the typical household earns $68,393 a year and the typical rent is $684. 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
- Pembina County, ND: the basics
- How much Pembina County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Pembina County
- Renting and owning in Pembina County
- Towns and communities in Pembina County
- How Pembina County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Pembina County's medians
- Reading the Pembina County data as a borrower
- People and households in Pembina County
- Checklist for Pembina County applicants
- North Dakota rules that apply in Pembina County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pembina County, ND: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Pembina County's population at 6,727; only 18 of North Dakota's 53 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,119 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (11 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Cavalier, with about 1,426 residents, or 21% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Pembina County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How much Pembina County households make
At $68,393, the typical Pembina County household income is 4% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 32nd among North Dakota's 53 county-level areas.
| Household income | Pembina County | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.9% | +3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.5% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -1.9 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. 9.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). None of these numbers decides a Pembina County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Pembina County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 15%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Pembina County. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. 3.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Pembina County share | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.7% | -6.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.1% | +7.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.1% | +4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 8.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Renting and owning in Pembina County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $684 in Pembina County versus $954 statewide. 29% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. Home values center on $119,200, or 1.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Housing | Pembina County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $684/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $119,200 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 11% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.5% | 6.6% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Pembina 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.
Towns and communities in Pembina County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Pembina County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 4,709 people, so roughly 30% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $34,107 in Walhalla to $101,875 in Pembina. This guide covers each of the 11 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier | city | 1,426 | $60,449 | $800 | 4 mi |
| Walhalla | city | 865 | $34,107 | $630 | 20 mi |
| Drayton | city | 763 | $70,250 | $495 | 22 mi |
| Pembina | city | 625 | $101,875 | $718 | 19 mi |
| Neche | city | 398 | $82,500 | n/a | 15 mi |
| St. Thomas | city | 306 | $72,500 | $825 | 11 mi |
| Crystal | city | 103 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Mountain | city | 100 | $52,500 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Bathgate | city | 56 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Hamilton | city | 39 | $83,750 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Canton City (Hensel) | city | 28 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
How Pembina County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 28 to 65 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $61,006 in Ramsey County to $76,100 in Kittson County; 4 of these neighbors top Pembina County's median. The list crosses into Minnesota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembina County | - | $68,393 | $684/mo | 75% |
| Walsh County, ND | 28 mi | $71,944 | $748/mo | 76% |
| Kittson County, MN | 35 mi | $76,100 | $757/mo | 83% |
| Cavalier County, ND | 42 mi | $69,531 | $786/mo | 81% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 58 mi | $68,075 | $992/mo | 52% |
| Marshall County, MN | 61 mi | $72,543 | $690/mo | 83% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 65 mi | $61,006 | $714/mo | 55% |
Debt-to-income at Pembina County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Pembina County's medians:
- $68,393 a year is $5,699 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $684, takes 12% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,596 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Pembina County's.
Reading the Pembina County data as a borrower
Based on the Pembina County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Older households. A 45.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
People and households in Pembina County
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. 7.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Pembina County | North Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.6% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.0% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Pembina County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 2.7% |
Checklist for Pembina County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Pembina County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
North Dakota rules that apply in Pembina County
Consumer lenders serving Pembina County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Dakota that is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
Related local guides
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pembina County a high-income county?
Its $68,393 median ranks 32nd of 53 North Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Pembina County?
$684 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
Should Pembina County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Pembina 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 Cavalier?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Pembina County, such as Walhalla, Drayton, Pembina.
Will a Pembina 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.