Population 72,923 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Grand Forks County
Household size in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.33 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.21 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Grand Forks County are small: just 2.27 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.43, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.3 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.4 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.7 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.7 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.3 | −0.8 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 33.7, Grand Forks County is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has crept up from 33.3 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only four of North Dakota's 53 counties are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Grand Forks County: 7.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Grand Forks County
Renters in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.6% | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 48.4% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.5% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.2% | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Grand Forks County than nationally: 48.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (43.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other North Dakota county has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Grand Forks County is close to the national rate: 8.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in North Dakota as a whole (12.0%). Only four of North Dakota's 53 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +11 | +6 |
The typical home in Grand Forks County was built around 1982, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $709 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $770 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $927 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,085 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$375 | +$458 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Grand Forks County costs $1,085 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in North Dakota overall ($1,031). Rent has climbed $375 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Grand Forks County
Bachelor's degrees in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3% | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.0% | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.3% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Grand Forks County than nationally: 39.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few North Dakota counties have a higher share of college graduates: only two of 53.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.0% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.2% | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.0% | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Grand Forks County: 96.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other North Dakota county has a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Grand Forks County
| Period | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Grand Forks County has been low: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Grand Forks County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks County | 2.27 | 33.7 | 7.7% | 48.2% | 8.4% | 1982 | $1,085 | 39.3% | 96.0% | 2.2% |
| Polk County | 2.41 | 39.9 | 8.0% | 28.7% | 14.0% | 1970 | $982 | 27.6% | 93.6% | 3.8% |
| Traill County | 2.30 | 41.4 | 9.0% | 25.7% | 8.1% | 1964 | $897 | 31.0% | 94.6% | 2.3% |
| Marshall County | 2.33 | 43.8 | 8.4% | 17.0% | 13.8% | 1970 | $758 | 18.6% | 92.9% | 3.6% |
| Walsh County | 2.32 | 42.7 | 9.4% | 24.0% | 13.8% | 1970 | $862 | 19.3% | 89.5% | 1.5% |
| Steele County | 2.24 | 46.2 | 5.0% | 22.2% | 26.9% | 1967 | $763 | 28.8% | 95.3% | 3.3% |
| Red Lake County | 2.33 | 43.5 | 7.9% | 16.6% | 10.9% | 1969 | $543 | 18.7% | 95.2% | 1.1% |
| Pennington County | 2.22 | 41.6 | 7.6% | 27.8% | 9.6% | 1972 | $911 | 20.9% | 94.8% | 3.0% |
| Nelson County | 2.18 | 48.7 | 5.1% | 24.9% | 24.2% | 1962 | $696 | 29.9% | 92.7% | 1.0% |
| Griggs County | 2.17 | 53.2 | 6.6% | 23.4% | 27.2% | 1957 | $532 | 26.0% | 93.1% | 1.5% |
| Ramsey County | 2.17 | 42.4 | 7.9% | 45.5% | 9.2% | 1976 | $761 | 25.3% | 92.9% | 1.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Vermilion County, IL · Broomfield County, CO · Putnam County, FL · Lonoke County, AR · Lynchburg City, VA · Monroe County, FL · Oconee County, SC · Payne County, OK · Pulaski County, KY · Liberty County, GA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Grand Forks County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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