1st Advantage MortgageThe median Ward County household earns $78,238, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Ward County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Ward County
- Household income in Ward County
- Work, industries and travel time in Ward County
- The communities that make up Ward County
- The counties around Ward County
- Debt-to-income at Ward County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Ward County
- Ward County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Ward County residents
- A Ward County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Ward County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Ward County
Ward County is home to about 68,973 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 4th most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. Land area is 2,013 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 34 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Minot, ND metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 16 Census places inside Ward County, Minot leads by population with about 47,791; 12 of the 16 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Ward County
A typical Ward County rental runs $1,048 a month including utilities, which is 10% above North Dakota. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $267,100, a typical Ward County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 61%. The median year built is 1984.
| Ward County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,048/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $267,100 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 21% | n/a |
Household income in Ward County
Ward County households have a median income of $78,238 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 18th of 53 in North Dakota.
| Band | Ward County | Compared with North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.0% | -2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.1% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.7% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.3% | +0.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Ward County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. 8.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Ward County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Ward County
The biggest employer of Ward County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The survey's unemployment rate for Ward County averages 3.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Ward County share | +/- vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Ward County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 84% of Ward County residents live in one of the 16. Surrey has the highest median household income on the list ($106,438) and Minot AFB the lowest ($62,500), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $768 in Kenmare to $1,431 in Minot AFB. This guide covers each of the 16 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot | city | 47,791 | $73,219 | $973 | 12 mi |
| Minot AFB | CDP | 4,878 | $62,500 | $1,431 | 17 mi |
| Surrey | city | 1,721 | $106,438 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Burlington | city | 1,067 | $77,708 | $1,144 | 6 mi |
| Kenmare | city | 1,002 | $64,077 | $768 | 40 mi |
| Berthold | city | 415 | $96,000 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Sawyer | city | 353 | $76,250 | $1,100 | 24 mi |
| Carpio | city | 184 | $68,750 | $1,000 | 18 mi |
| Des Lacs | city | 163 | $70,000 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Ruthville | CDP | 104 | $48,077 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Ryder | city | 100 | $40,313 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Douglas | city | 94 | $60,000 | n/a | 25 mi |
| Makoti | city | 84 | $75,750 | $525 | 21 mi |
| Donnybrook | city | 74 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Ward County
Distances run center to center, from Renville County at 35 miles out to Burke County at 60. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Ward County; Burke County is highest at $91,591 and Renville County lowest at $74,301.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward County | - | $78,238 | $1,048/mo | 61% |
| Renville County, ND | 35 mi | $74,301 | $828/mo | 79% |
| Mountrail County, ND | 38 mi | $80,717 | $950/mo | 62% |
| McLean County, ND | 39 mi | $83,583 | $784/mo | 84% |
| McHenry County, ND | 42 mi | $80,733 | $713/mo | 81% |
| Bottineau County, ND | 51 mi | $85,000 | $796/mo | 79% |
| Burke County, ND | 60 mi | $91,591 | $684/mo | 75% |
Debt-to-income at Ward County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Ward County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,520 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,048, takes 16% of that
- $1,299: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Ward County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Ward County
Based on the Ward County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Ward County households compared
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. 6.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Ward County | North Dakota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.6% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Who licenses lenders for Ward County residents
Ward County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
A Ward County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Ward County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Ward County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Ward County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Ward County household make?
About $78,238 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% above the North Dakota median.
How does Ward County rent compare with North Dakota?
$1,048 locally versus $954 for the state, 10% above.
Does this page cover Minot?
Yes, along with the other 15 Census places in Ward County, such as Minot AFB, Surrey, Burlington.
Can Ward County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Dakota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Ward County?
Start with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.