North Dakota State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 784,841 Household income: $76,657 Rent: $954

Overview

Total population

784,841

Rent

$954

Year built

1982

Household income

$76,657

Per capita income

$43,389

Poverty rate

10.8%

Unemployment rate

2.4%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

36.3%

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.

Demographics

State

North Dakota

Total population

784,841

Adults over 25

513,405

Total households

331,063

Household size

2.3 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

$76,657

Per capita income

$43,389

Poverty rate

10.8%

Unemployment rate

2.4%

Rent over 30% of income

36.3%

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

Housing

Rent

$954

Year built

1982

Households that rent

37.1%

Households that own

62.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

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

Race

White

83%

Black

3.4%

Asian

1.7%

Two or more races

5.9%

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

4.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

95.3%

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

91.9%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

8.1%

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

26.2%

High school graduate or GED

25.5%

Some college or associate degree

15.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

32.7%

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

Comparison of North Dakota with: Minnesota Montana South Dakota United States

North Dakota

Total population784,841

Rent$954

Year built1982

Household income$76,657

Per capita income$43,389

Poverty rate10.8%

Unemployment rate2.4%

Minnesota

Total population5,739,445

Rent$1,280

Year built1979

Household income$89,062

Per capita income$48,237

Poverty rate9.3%

Unemployment rate3%

Montana

Total population1,116,875

Rent$1,081

Year built1981

Household income$72,509

Per capita income$41,711

Poverty rate11.5%

Unemployment rate3%

South Dakota

Total population907,428

Rent$946

Year built1980

Household income$75,081

Per capita income$40,550

Poverty rate11.9%

Unemployment rate1.8%

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	StateNorth Dakota	StateMinnesota	StateMontana	StateSouth Dakota	CountyUnited States
Total population	784,841	5,739,445	1,116,875	907,428	334,922,499
Rent	$954	$1,280	$1,081	$946	$1,413
Year built	1982	1979	1981	1980	1980
Household income	$76,657	$89,062	$72,509	$75,081	$80,734
Per capita income	$43,389	$48,237	$41,711	$40,550	$44,673
Poverty rate	10.8%	9.3%	11.5%	11.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.4%	3%	3%	1.8%	4%

North Dakota is compared to its neighboring states — Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for North Dakota

North Dakota has about 784,841 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in North Dakota is $954, which is lower than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in North Dakota is $76,657, lower than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 10.8%, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 62.9% of homes. About 37.1% of households in North Dakota are renters. Around 36.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a moderate housing cost burden statewide. Many homes were built around 1982, reflecting a generally older housing stock.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is high, with about 32.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in North Dakota is 2.4%, lower than the U.S. rate of 4%.

North Dakota — Rent vs Household Income

North Dakota — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in North Dakota (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $954 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 North Dakota

Annual Household Income: $76,657

💡 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 North Dakota

Estimated Rate: 10.8%

💡 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 North Dakota

In North Dakota, households that rent: 122,979 (37.1%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	122,979	37.1%
Owner-Occupied	208,084	62.9%

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 North Dakota

In North Dakota, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 44,672 (36.3%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	44,672	36.3%
Other renter households	78,307	63.7%
Total renter households	122,979	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 North Dakota

Less than High School: 134,444 people (26.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 131,065 people (25.5%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 80,047 people (15.6%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 167,849 people (32.7%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 513,405

📊 Unemployment Rate in North Dakota

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.