1st Advantage MortgageIn Steele County, North Dakota, the typical household earns $77,500 a year and the typical rent is $738. 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
- Steele County, ND: the basics
- Renting and owning in Steele County
- Paychecks and income spread in Steele County
- The Steele County job picture
- Places inside Steele County
- How Steele County compares with nearby counties
- A Steele County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Steele County
- Before borrowing in Steele County
- Steps before you apply in Steele County
- Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Steele County, ND: the basics
Steele County is home to about 1,804 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 49th most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. Spread over 712 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.5 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Steele County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Hope, with about 339 residents, or 19% of the county. Because Steele County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Steele County
Renters in Steele County pay a median of $738 a month, 23% below the North Dakota figure of $954. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 26% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,700, about 1.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 78%. The median home was built in 1968, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Steele County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $738/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,700 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.3% | 6.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 12% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Steele 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Steele County
Half of Steele County households take in less than $77,500 a year and half take in more, about the same as the North Dakota median of $76,657.
| Household income | Steele County | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.4% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.7% | -6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.7% | +2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | -0.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 39% of Steele County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 12.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). For a borrower in Steele 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.
The Steele County job picture
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 30% locally and 8% for North Dakota. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Steele County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 29.8% | +21.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.5% | -8.2 pts |
| Construction | 11.3% | +4.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.5% | -3.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.0% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Steele County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 46% of Steele County residents live in one of the 4. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope | city | 339 | $54,125 | $685 | 9 mi |
| Finley | city | 329 | $74,643 | $881 | 7 mi |
| Sharon | city | 101 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Luverne | city | 52 | $116,563 | n/a | 17 mi |
How Steele County compares with nearby counties
Griggs County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Cass County, is 42 miles off. Traill County leads the group on income ($87,004), Griggs County trails ($61,711), and Steele County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steele County | - | $77,500 | $738/mo | 78% |
| Griggs County, ND | 24 mi | $61,711 | $573/mo | 77% |
| Traill County, ND | 26 mi | $87,004 | $717/mo | 74% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 35 mi | $68,075 | $992/mo | 52% |
| Barnes County, ND | 39 mi | $68,038 | $779/mo | 71% |
| Nelson County, ND | 39 mi | $67,193 | $582/mo | 75% |
| Cass County, ND | 42 mi | $75,555 | $958/mo | 52% |
A Steele County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Steele County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Steele County: $6,458
- Less median rent of $738, which is 11% of it
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,039 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Steele County
29% of Steele County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.4%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| Steele County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.9% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 0.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
Before borrowing in Steele County
A few patterns in the Steele County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fixed incomes. Steele County's median age is 46.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Steele County borrower sees (free reports).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Steele County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Steps before you apply in Steele County
Quick steps for Steele County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Steele County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A North Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Steele County, check the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The North Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Steele County a high-income county?
Its $77,500 median ranks 20th of 53 North Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Steele County rent compare with North Dakota?
$738 locally versus $954 for the state, 23% below.
What are the biggest places in Steele County?
By population: Hope, Finley, Sharon, Luverne. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Steele County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.
Is there a Steele County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Dakota it is the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.