1st Advantage MortgageTraill County households have a median income of $87,004 and median rent of $717 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Traill County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Traill County
- How much Traill County households make
- How Traill County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Traill County
- Regional comparison for Traill County
- Budget math at the Traill County median
- People and households in Traill County
- Local borrowing considerations for Traill County
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Traill County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Traill County at a glance
Roughly 7,970 residents live in Traill County, North Dakota, 18th by population among the state's 53 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 862 square miles, that works out to roughly 9.2 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Traill County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (9 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Mayville, with about 1,976 residents, or 25% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Traill County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Rent, home values and ownership in Traill County
A typical Traill County rental runs $717 a month including utilities, which is 25% below North Dakota. By the Census definition, 35% of Traill County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $200,700, a typical Traill County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 74%. Median construction year: 1964.
| Home costs | Traill County | North Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $717/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $200,700 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% | 6.6% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Traill 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.
How much Traill County households make
At $87,004, the typical Traill County household income is 32% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 6th among North Dakota's 53 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Traill County | Difference from North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.7% | -5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.1% | +5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.7% | +1.1 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 44% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.1%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.8%. For a borrower in Traill 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.
How Traill County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 12% locally and 7% for North Dakota. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.2% in Traill County. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Traill County share | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.2% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.3% | +4.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -2.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Traill County
11 Census places fall mainly inside Traill County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 5,837 residents, leaving about 27% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $55,735 in Mayville to $90,000 in Portland. Median rent ranges from $623 in Portland to $854 in Mayville. No Traill County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayville | city | 1,976 | $55,735 | $854 | 8 mi |
| Hillsboro | city | 1,704 | $81,483 | $639 | 6 mi |
| Hatton | city | 608 | $76,111 | $760 | 19 mi |
| Portland | city | 549 | $90,000 | $623 | 10 mi |
| Buxton | city | 360 | $96,250 | $689 | 11 mi |
| Reynolds | city | 349 | $93,750 | $1,650 | 16 mi |
| Grandin | city | 119 | $82,188 | $620 | 16 mi |
| Caledonia | CDP | 74 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Clifford | city | 54 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Galesburg | city | 44 | $145,500 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Blanchard | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Regional comparison for Traill County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Traill County's, from 26 to 49 miles away. Clay County leads the group on income ($81,172), Grand Forks County trails ($68,075), and Traill County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Traill County resident follows North Dakota rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traill County | - | $87,004 | $717/mo | 74% |
| Steele County, ND | 26 mi | $77,500 | $738/mo | 78% |
| Norman County, MN | 34 mi | $72,260 | $774/mo | 79% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 36 mi | $68,075 | $992/mo | 52% |
| Cass County, ND | 36 mi | $75,555 | $958/mo | 52% |
| Polk County, MN | 42 mi | $73,107 | $855/mo | 71% |
| Clay County, MN | 49 mi | $81,172 | $1,019/mo | 66% |
Budget math at the Traill County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Traill County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,250 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $717, takes 10% of that
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,821 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $2,546 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $717, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Traill County
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| Residents | Traill County | North Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.9% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Traill County
A few patterns in the Traill County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Consolidation math. With 44% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Traill County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Before you sign
A short checklist for Traill County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Dakota borrowers.
- Ask a Traill County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Traill County
Traill County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Traill County earn?
The median is $87,004; 44% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Traill County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $717 against $954 statewide, and 35% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Traill County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Mayville, Hillsboro, Hatton, Portland, Buxton.
Are Traill County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Traill County check a lender's license?
With the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.