1st Advantage MortgageRamsey County households have a median income of $61,006 and median rent of $714 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Ramsey County
- How much Ramsey County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Ramsey County
- How Ramsey County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Ramsey County
- Ramsey County and the counties next door
- Ramsey County households compared
- Reading the Ramsey County data as a borrower
- A Ramsey County household budget, worked through
- North Dakota rules that apply in Ramsey County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Ramsey County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Ramsey County's population at 11,556; only 11 of North Dakota's 53 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,185 square miles, that works out to roughly 9.7 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 8 Census places inside Ramsey County, Devils Lake leads by population with about 7,308; 7 of the 8 are incorporated.
How much Ramsey County households make
Half of Ramsey County households take in less than $61,006 a year and half take in more, 20% below the North Dakota median of $76,657. In the state ranking that is 48th of 53.
| Household income | Ramsey County | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.9% | +8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.9% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -2.1 pts |
About 30% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 15.2%, 4 points higher than the state's 10.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.476 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Ramsey County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $714 in Ramsey County versus $954 statewide. By the Census definition, 46% of Ramsey County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $199,300, about 3.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 55%. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Measure | Ramsey County | North Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $714/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $199,300 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 55% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 7% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.8% | 6.6% | n/a |
For the many renters in Ramsey County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short.
How Ramsey County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Ramsey County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by retail trade (17%). Retail trade stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.2% in Ramsey County. 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 10.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Ramsey County | Compared with North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.2% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 17.0% | +5.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.3% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 5.8% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.5% | -0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Ramsey County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Ramsey County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Ramsey County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 7,801 residents, leaving about 32% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devils Lake | city | 7,308 | $43,220 | $711 | 12 mi |
| Edmore | city | 240 | $70,792 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Crary | city | 114 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Starkweather | city | 50 | $55,417 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Brocket | city | 43 | $103,750 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Hampden | city | 21 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Lawton | city | 21 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Churchs Ferry | CDP | 4 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Ramsey County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (31 to 47 miles). Walsh County leads the group on income ($71,944), Eddy County trails ($50,850), and Ramsey County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsey County | - | $61,006 | $714/mo | 55% |
| Benson County, ND | 31 mi | $64,033 | $588/mo | 73% |
| Nelson County, ND | 34 mi | $67,193 | $582/mo | 75% |
| Cavalier County, ND | 37 mi | $69,531 | $786/mo | 81% |
| Towner County, ND | 37 mi | $67,350 | $757/mo | 79% |
| Eddy County, ND | 38 mi | $50,850 | $590/mo | 72% |
| Walsh County, ND | 47 mi | $71,944 | $748/mo | 76% |
Ramsey County households compared
26% of Ramsey County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.3%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| Ramsey County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.7% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 1.7% |
Reading the Ramsey County data as a borrower
Based on the Ramsey County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Ramsey County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Ramsey County borrower sees (free reports).
A Ramsey County household budget, worked through
Here is the Ramsey County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,084 gross per month ($61,006 / 12)
- Median rent: $714, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,065: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,288 total minus rent leaves $1,574
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ramsey County's.
North Dakota rules that apply in Ramsey County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Ramsey County, check the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on North Dakota: North Dakota personal loans.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Ramsey County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Ramsey County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A North Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ramsey County a high-income county?
Its $61,006 median ranks 48th of 53 North Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Ramsey County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $714 against $954 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Ramsey County?
By population: Devils Lake, Edmore, Crary, Starkweather, Brocket. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Ramsey County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Ramsey County?
Start with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.