Population 9,823 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in McLean County
Household size in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.21 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
McLean County is a place of small households, averaging 2.25 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 2.21 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the south.
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 McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.5 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.5 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.5 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.8 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.6 | −0.8 | +2.3 |
McLean County skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has edged down from 48.5 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.6% of households in McLean County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 McLean County
Renters in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.9% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
McLean County is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.8 points, even as the national share rose. Only one other North Dakota county has a lower 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 McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.8% | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.1% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in McLean County: 24.1% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.0 points, in line with the national trend.
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 McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +11 | +6 |
The typical home in McLean County was built around 1977, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in North Dakota overall, where the median home dates to 1985. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south has the oldest housing.
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 McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $391 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $536 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $671 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $760 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$369 | +$458 | +$606 |
A typical rental in McLean County costs $760 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $369 a month from 2006–10, a 95% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 19.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the north.
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 McLean County
Bachelor's degrees in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.1% | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.8% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in McLean County (26.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.2 points, mirroring the country.
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 McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.8% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.1% | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.3% | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.8% | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in McLean County is above the national rate: 93.8% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of North Dakota. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 McLean County
| Period | McLean County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.6% | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.1% | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.3% | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.3% | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in McLean County has been strong: just 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
McLean 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean County | 2.25 | 47.8 | 5.6% | 15.8% | 24.1% | 1977 | $760 | 26.8% | 93.8% | 1.3% |
| Mercer County | 2.31 | 45.0 | 6.6% | 18.9% | 21.8% | 1980 | $1,117 | 22.9% | 91.7% | 3.1% |
| Oliver County | 2.53 | 46.2 | 5.7% | 4.8% | 18.9% | 1975 | $756 | 23.8% | 94.8% | 1.1% |
| Sheridan County | 1.91 | 51.5 | 3.9% | 16.0% | 19.5% | 1967 | $373 | 18.9% | 90.2% | 1.1% |
| Dunn County | 2.57 | 40.5 | 5.3% | 25.7% | 24.8% | 1984 | $911 | 26.7% | 94.1% | 3.2% |
| Wells County | 2.19 | 46.1 | 5.2% | 22.9% | 18.7% | 1967 | $658 | 21.9% | 92.4% | 2.1% |
| McKenzie County | 2.48 | 33.4 | 11.6% | 46.6% | 20.7% | 2005 | $1,471 | 17.9% | 89.7% | 2.4% |
| Eddy County | 1.95 | 48.0 | 6.3% | 28.0% | 12.0% | 1968 | $600 | 30.7% | 93.6% | 2.3% |
| Benson County | 3.04 | 32.7 | 23.8% | 26.9% | 19.4% | 1972 | $606 | 22.7% | 85.7% | 3.0% |
| Foster County | 2.18 | 45.5 | 5.3% | 20.3% | 13.1% | 1973 | $772 | 28.6% | 92.9% | 1.0% |
| Billings County | 2.46 | 41.8 | 3.2% | 22.1% | 25.5% | 1983 | $621 | 32.6% | 95.2% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lincoln County, KS · Los Alamos County, NM · Linn County, MO · Linn County, KS · Lincoln County, WY · Lincoln County, WA · Lincoln County, NV · Lincoln County, MT · Lincoln County, MN · Loving County, TX
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 McLean 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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