1st Advantage MortgageAbout 53% of Williams County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $85,595. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in North Dakota before sharing details.
On this page
- Williams County at a glance
- Williams County housing compared with North Dakota
- How much Williams County households make
- The Williams County job picture
- Williams County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Williams County
- What a median Williams County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Williams County
- Williams County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
- Steps before you apply in Williams County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Williams County at a glance
With an estimated 39,555 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Williams County ranks 5th of 53 in North Dakota for population. Land area is 2,078 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 19 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Williston is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 28,056 people (71% of the county total).
Williams County housing compared with North Dakota
Renters in Williams County pay a median of $1,123 a month, 18% above the North Dakota figure of $954. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 29% of renter households here. Home values center on $284,800, or 3.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 53%. Median construction year: 2001.
| Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,123/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $284,800 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 53% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.6% | 6.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 12% | n/a |
Renters cannot borrow against a house, which narrows the choice to unsecured loans, cards and help from creditors; compare total cost, not just the payment.
How much Williams County households make
The median household income in Williams County is $85,595; statewide it is $76,657, so Williams County runs 12% above North Dakota as a whole. That places it 9th among North Dakota's 53 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Williams County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.8% | -4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.2% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.0% | +4.4 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 41% clear $100,000. 8.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.460 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Williams 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 Williams County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 18% locally and 8% for North Dakota. The survey's unemployment rate for Williams County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Only 6.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Williams County | Compared with North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | -2.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.4% | +10.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.9% | -1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Williams County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 32 to 63 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Williams County; McKenzie County is highest at $93,404 and Sheridan County lowest at $70,147. The list crosses into Montana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams County | - | $85,595 | $1,123/mo | 53% |
| Divide County, ND | 32 mi | $91,852 | $1,105/mo | 77% |
| McKenzie County, ND | 43 mi | $93,404 | $1,284/mo | 53% |
| Sheridan County, MT | 53 mi | $70,147 | $746/mo | 72% |
| Mountrail County, ND | 53 mi | $80,717 | $950/mo | 62% |
| Burke County, ND | 54 mi | $91,591 | $684/mo | 75% |
| Richland County, MT | 63 mi | $73,084 | $917/mo | 67% |
The communities that make up Williams County
12 Census places fall mainly inside Williams County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 31,938 residents, leaving about 19% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $79,381 at the median in Williston, $66,181 in Tioga. Median rent ranges from $988 in Ray to $1,122 in Williston. Live in one of these Williams County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williston | city | 28,056 | $79,381 | $1,122 | 13 mi |
| Tioga | city | 1,657 | $66,181 | $1,092 | 26 mi |
| Ray | city | 714 | $72,031 | $988 | 15 mi |
| Grenora | city | 408 | n/a | $575 | 27 mi |
| Trenton | CDP | 406 | $107,417 | $617 | 25 mi |
| Wildrose | city | 260 | $95,536 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Epping | city | 124 | $67,174 | n/a | 8 mi |
| McGregor | CDP | 108 | n/a | n/a | 31 mi |
| Blacktail | CDP | 93 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Alamo | city | 47 | $58,333 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Long Creek | CDP | 38 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
| Springbrook | city | 27 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
What a median Williams County budget can carry
Here is the Williams County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,133 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,123, takes 16% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,445 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Williams County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Williams County
What the Williams County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Strong incomes, long terms. 41% of Williams County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Williams County borrower sees (free reports).
Williams County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. 11.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Williams County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.4% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.5% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Williams County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Checking a lender's license in North Dakota
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Williams County, check the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the North Dakota state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Williams County
A short checklist for Williams County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the North Dakota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Williams County a high-income county?
Its $85,595 median ranks 9th of 53 North Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Williams County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,123 a month; 29% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Williams County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Williston, Tioga, Ray, Grenora, Trenton and 7 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Williams County or elsewhere in North Dakota, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Williams County?
Start with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.