1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Stark County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $84,449. 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
- Stark County by the numbers
- How Stark County residents earn a living
- Income in Stark County compared with North Dakota
- Rent, home values and ownership in Stark County
- Places inside Stark County
- Stark County and the counties next door
- A Stark County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Stark County data as a borrower
- People and households in Stark County
- Checklist for Stark County applicants
- Lender oversight for Stark County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Stark County by the numbers
Stark County is home to about 33,302 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 7th most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. Land area is 1,335 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 25 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Dickinson, with about 25,357 residents, or 76% of the county.
How Stark County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Stark County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (14%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.0% in Stark County. About 78% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Stark County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.3% | -7.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.6% | +5.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.0% | +1.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Stark County compared with North Dakota
Half of Stark County households take in less than $84,449 a year and half take in more, 10% above the North Dakota median of $76,657. Only 10 North Dakota counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Stark County | Difference from North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.6% | 0.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.3% | +3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.1% | -1.5 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 39% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 12.1%, 1 point higher than the state's 10.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.423 here. For a borrower in Stark 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Stark County
A typical Stark County rental runs $960 a month including utilities. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. With a median value of $271,700, a typical Stark County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 67% of Stark County households own their home and 33% rent.
| Home costs | Stark County | North Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $960/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $271,700 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 21% | n/a |
Places inside Stark County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Stark County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 27,722 residents, leaving about 17% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $142,564 at the median in South Heart, $45,938 in Belfield. Rent is cheapest in Richardton ($593) and steepest in Dickinson ($957). Live in one of these Stark County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson | city | 25,357 | $82,696 | $957 | 8 mi |
| Richardton | city | 768 | $60,179 | $593 | 16 mi |
| Belfield | city | 685 | $45,938 | $716 | 26 mi |
| South Heart | city | 503 | $142,564 | $619 | 16 mi |
| Gladstone | city | 230 | $95,417 | $850 | 5 mi |
| Taylor | city | 179 | $100,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
Stark County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 52 miles). Dunn County leads the group on income ($97,689), Adams County trails ($62,500), and Stark County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stark County | - | $84,449 | $960/mo | 67% |
| Hettinger County, ND | 28 mi | $73,026 | $785/mo | 77% |
| Billings County, ND | 36 mi | $86,806 | $621/mo | 78% |
| Dunn County, ND | 37 mi | $97,689 | $922/mo | 74% |
| Slope County, ND | 46 mi | $71,250 | $525/mo | 81% |
| Adams County, ND | 50 mi | $62,500 | $594/mo | 72% |
| Mercer County, ND | 52 mi | $80,946 | $1,031/mo | 81% |
A Stark County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Stark County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $7,037 a month: gross income for a household at the Stark County median
- Less median rent of $960, which is 14% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $3,026 total minus rent leaves $2,066
If your rent is above $960, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Stark County data as a borrower
Where the Stark County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Stark County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
People and households in Stark County
30% of Stark County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Stark County | North Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.0% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Stark County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 58.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Checklist for Stark County applicants
A short checklist for Stark County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Stark County
Stark County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Stark County household make?
About $84,449 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% above the North Dakota median.
How does Stark County rent compare with North Dakota?
$960 locally, close to the state figure.
Which towns does the Stark County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Dickinson, Richardton, Belfield, South Heart, Gladstone.
Is the fit check different in Stark County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Stark County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Dakota it is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.