Cass County, ND Local Data & Statistics

State: ND
Total population: 193,400 Household income: $75,555 Rent: $958

Overview

Total population
193,400
Rent
$958
Year built
1993
Household income
$75,555
Per capita income
$45,643
Poverty rate
11%
Unemployment rate
2.4%
Household size
2.2 persons
Rent over 30% of income
38.9%

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
193,400
Adults over 25
121,988
Total households
83,945
Household size
2.2 persons

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.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$75,555
Per capita income
$45,643
Poverty rate
11%
Unemployment rate
2.4%
Rent over 30% of income
38.9%

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.

Housing

Rent
$958
Year built
1993
Households that rent
48%
Households that own
52%
Rooms per home (all homes)
5.3

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.

Race

White
82.3%
Black
7%
Asian
3.2%
Two or more races
5.3%

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.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
3.6%
Not Hispanic or Latino
96.4%

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.

Commute

Commute rate
90%
Commute time to work
17 mins
Work from home
10%

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.

Education

Less than high school
24.8%
High school graduate or GED
17.9%
Some college or associate degree
14.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
42.6%

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.

 

Comparison of Cass County, ND with: Fargo Metro Area, ND-MN North Dakota United States

Cass County, ND

Total population193,400
Rent$958
Year built1993
Household income$75,555
Per capita income$45,643
Poverty rate11%
Unemployment rate2.4%

Fargo Metro Area, ND-MN

Total population259,459
Rent$967
Year built1991
Household income$76,756
Per capita income$44,190
Poverty rate11.6%
Unemployment rate2.3%

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 CountyCass County, NDMetro AreaFargo Metro Area, ND-MNStateNorth DakotaCountryUnited States
Total population193,400259,459784,841334,922,499
Rent$958$967$954$1,413
Year built1993199119821980
Household income$75,555$76,756$76,657$80,734
Per capita income$45,643$44,190$43,389$44,673
Poverty rate11%11.6%10.8%12.5%
Unemployment rate2.4%2.3%2.4%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

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Summary for Cass County, ND

Cass County is located in North Dakota .

Rent & Income

In Cass County, the monthly rent is $958 and household income is $75,555. Rent is similar to North Dakota and lower than the U.S., and household income is similar to North Dakota and lower than the U.S. The poverty rate is 11%, which is similar to North Dakota and lower than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 48% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. Around 38.9% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 42.6% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 2.4%, which is similar to North Dakota and lower than the national rate.

 

 

Cass County, ND — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

Cass County, ND — Poverty vs Unemployment

 

💰 Rent in Cass County, ND (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $958 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 Cass County, ND

Annual Household Income: $75,555

💡 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 Cass County, ND

Estimated Rate: 11%

💡 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 Cass County, ND

In Cass County, ND, households that rent: 40,322 (48%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 40,322 48%
Owner-Occupied 43,623 52%

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 Cass County, ND

In Cass County, ND, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 15,682 (38.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 15,682 38.9%
Other renter households 24,640 61.1%
Total renter households 40,322 100%

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 Cass County, ND

Less than High School: 30,264 people (24.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 21,841 people (17.9%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 17,856 people (14.6%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 52,027 people (42.6%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 121,988

📊 Unemployment Rate in Cass County, ND

Estimated Rate: 2.4%

💡 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%.

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.