Population 784,841 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in North Dakota
Household size in North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.03 |
North Dakota is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Of the 50 states and D.C., only three have smaller households.
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 North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.8 | +2.3 |
North Dakota is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.4, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has edged down from 38.2 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Of the 50 states and D.C., only four 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 North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in North Dakota than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%. Only three of the 50 states and D.C. have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 North Dakota
Renters in North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in North Dakota is about as common as it is nationally: 37.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 45.9% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in North Dakota than nationally: 12.0%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 |
Homes in North Dakota are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1974 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 North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$458 | +$606 |
Rent in North Dakota runs $1,031 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $458 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 25.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in western North Dakota; the most affordable are in northern North Dakota.
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 North Dakota
Bachelor's degrees in North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in North Dakota (33.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.0 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in southeastern North Dakota and least in northern North Dakota.
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 North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in North Dakota is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.8 points, mirroring the country. Only four of the 50 states and D.C. have 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 North Dakota
| Period | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in North Dakota has been low: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. No other state has lower unemployment. 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).
North Dakota compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 2.38 | 37.4 | 8.8% | 37.1% | 12.0% | 1985 | $1,031 | 33.9% | 94.1% | 2.8% |
| South Dakota | 2.48 | 38.9 | 10.7% | 31.4% | 10.3% | 1981 | $1,000 | 32.5% | 93.1% | 3.1% |
| Minnesota | 2.52 | 40.0 | 9.6% | 27.8% | 8.3% | 1978 | $1,404 | 39.6% | 93.7% | 4.1% |
| Nebraska | 2.51 | 38.3 | 10.4% | 33.5% | 7.8% | 1975 | $1,159 | 34.9% | 91.8% | 3.1% |
| Wyoming | 2.39 | 40.2 | 9.2% | 28.2% | 12.1% | 1981 | $1,091 | 30.6% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| Iowa | 2.43 | 39.8 | 10.0% | 28.3% | 8.8% | 1971 | $1,020 | 32.3% | 93.0% | 3.7% |
| Montana | 2.44 | 41.5 | 8.8% | 30.8% | 12.2% | 1982 | $1,189 | 35.3% | 94.6% | 3.7% |
| Wisconsin | 2.40 | 41.4 | 9.8% | 32.2% | 9.2% | 1974 | $1,139 | 33.6% | 93.3% | 3.3% |
| Colorado | 2.54 | 39.1 | 9.3% | 33.8% | 7.3% | 1988 | $1,963 | 45.9% | 92.8% | 4.6% |
| Kansas | 2.53 | 38.8 | 10.5% | 32.8% | 9.7% | 1976 | $1,159 | 35.6% | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| Illinois | 2.58 | 40.2 | 11.3% | 32.9% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,428 | 37.7% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Arizona · Wyoming · Wisconsin · West Virginia · Washington · Virginia · Vermont · Utah · Texas · Louisiana
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 North Dakota. 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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