1st Advantage MortgageThe median Slope County household earns $71,250, and 5% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Slope County by the numbers
- What Slope County households earn
- What it costs to live in Slope County
- The Slope County job picture
- Counties near Slope County
- Slope County towns compared
- What a median Slope County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Slope County
- More Slope County figures
- Lender oversight for Slope County
- A Slope County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Slope County by the numbers
Roughly 766 residents live in Slope County, North Dakota, 53rd by population among the state's 53 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,215 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Slope County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (2 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Marmarth, with about 100 residents, or 13% of the county. Because Slope County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Slope County households earn
Slope County households have a median income of $71,250 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 29th of 53 in North Dakota.
| Yearly household income | Slope County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.5% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.2% | -3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.9% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.4% | -0.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Slope County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. Census counts 5.0% of Slope County residents in poverty, against 10.8% across North Dakota. A household earning below the $71,250 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Slope County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $525 in Slope County versus $954 statewide. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent. With a median value of $170,000, a typical Slope County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 81% of Slope County households own their home and 19% rent. The median home was built in 1961, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Slope County | North Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $525/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $170,000 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 21% | n/a |
Because most Slope County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The Slope County job picture
The biggest employer of Slope County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 51% of workers, followed by education and health care (18%). Compared with North Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (51% against 8%). The survey's unemployment rate for Slope County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). About 60% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 0.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Slope County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 51.2% | +43.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.0% | -7.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 5.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 5.5% | -1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 3.5% | -2.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Slope County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Counties near Slope County
Bowman County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hettinger County, is 48 miles off. Billings County leads the group on income ($86,806), Golden Valley County trails ($68,021), and Slope County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in Montana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Slope County resident follows North Dakota rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slope County | - | $71,250 | $525/mo | 81% |
| Bowman County, ND | 23 mi | $72,109 | $765/mo | 83% |
| Golden Valley County, ND | 39 mi | $68,021 | $638/mo | 80% |
| Billings County, ND | 39 mi | $86,806 | $621/mo | 78% |
| Fallon County, MT | 46 mi | $76,250 | $779/mo | 69% |
| Stark County, ND | 46 mi | $84,449 | $960/mo | 67% |
| Hettinger County, ND | 48 mi | $73,026 | $785/mo | 77% |
Slope County towns compared
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Slope County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 106 people, so roughly 86% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marmarth | city | 100 | $62,813 | $513 | 25 mi |
| Amidon | city | 6 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
What a median Slope County budget can carry
Here is the Slope County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,938 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $525, takes 9% of that
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,553 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,672 total minus rent leaves $2,147
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Slope County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Slope County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Slope County borrowers.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 54, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Slope County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
More Slope County figures
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Slope County | North Dakota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.3% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 0.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.0% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
Lender oversight for Slope County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Slope County resident can confirm its license with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The North Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Slope County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Slope County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Slope County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Slope County a high-income county?
Its $71,250 median ranks 29th of 53 North Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Slope County rent compare with North Dakota?
$525 locally versus $954 for the state, 45% below.
I own my home in Slope County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Slope County?
By population: Marmarth, Amidon. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Will a Slope 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.