Grand Forks, ND Local Data & Statistics

State: ND

Total population: 59,042 Household income: $63,627 Rent: $980

Overview

Total population

59,042

Rent

$980

Year built

1984

Household income

$63,627

Per capita income

$39,857

Poverty rate

15.5%

Unemployment rate

2.1%

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

44.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Dakota

Total population

59,042

Adults over 25

34,604

Total households

26,171

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$63,627

Per capita income

$39,857

Poverty rate

15.5%

Unemployment rate

2.1%

Rent over 30% of income

44.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$980

Year built

1984

Households that rent

53.6%

Households that own

46.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

81.6%

Black

4.4%

Asian

3.3%

Two or more races

7.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

93.5%

Commute time to work

15 mins

Work from home

6.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

25.5%

High school graduate or GED

21.2%

Some college or associate degree

13.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

40%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Grand Forks, ND with: North Dakota United States

Grand Forks, ND

Total population59,042

Rent$980

Year built1984

Household income$63,627

Per capita income$39,857

Poverty rate15.5%

Unemployment rate2.1%

North Dakota State

Total population784,841

Rent$954

Year built1982

Household income$76,657

Per capita income$43,389

Poverty rate10.8%

Unemployment rate2.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityGrand Forks, ND	StateNorth Dakota	CountryUnited States
Total population	59,042	784,841	334,922,499
Rent	$980	$954	$1,413
Year built	1984	1982	1980
Household income	$63,627	$76,657	$80,734
Per capita income	$39,857	$43,389	$44,673
Poverty rate	15.5%	10.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.1%	2.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Grand Forks, ND, North Dakota and United States →

Summary for Grand Forks, ND

Grand Forks is located in North Dakota.

Rent & Income

In Grand Forks, the typical monthly rent is $980 and the typical household income is $63,627. Rent here is similar to North Dakota and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both North Dakota and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 15.5%, which is higher than in both North Dakota and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 53.6% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 44.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 40% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.1%, which is lower than both North Dakota and the national rate.

Grand Forks, ND — Rent vs Household Income

Grand Forks, ND — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Grand Forks, ND (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $980 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Grand Forks, ND

Annual Household Income: $63,627

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Grand Forks, ND

Estimated Rate: 15.5%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Grand Forks, ND

In Grand Forks, ND, households that rent: 14,016 (53.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	14,016	53.6%
Owner-Occupied	12,155	46.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Grand Forks, ND

In Grand Forks, ND, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 6,190 (44.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	6,190	44.2%
Other renter households	7,826	55.8%
Total renter households	14,016	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Grand Forks, ND

Less than High School: 8,808 people (25.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 7,329 people (21.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,641 people (13.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 13,826 people (40%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 34,604

📊 Unemployment Rate in Grand Forks, ND

Estimated Rate: 2.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Medford, MA59,062 Taylorsville, UT59,010 Wylie, TX58,991 Cupertino, CA58,886 Dubuque, IA59,271 Shoreline, WA59,280 Petaluma, CA59,321 Casper, WY58,754 Kokomo, IN59,375 Hanford, CA59,389

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.