Population 861 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Ray
Household size in Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.16 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.60 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.44 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Ray average 2.60 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in North Dakota as a whole, where it has 2.38 people. Household size has climbed from 2.16 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.4 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.1 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.8 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.4 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −5.0 | −0.8 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Ray are younger than 41.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in North Dakota as a whole, where the median age is 37.4.
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 Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.8% | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in Ray (8.9%), below the national share of 11.6%. North Dakota as a whole looks much the same.
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 Ray
Renters in Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.3% | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Ray is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (53.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 29.0% | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.1% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | +17.3 pts | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Ray: 27.1% 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.
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 Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +16 | +11 | +6 |
Homes in Ray are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. North Dakota as a whole looks much the same.
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 Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $486 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $689 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $681 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,079 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$593 | +$458 | +$606 |
The median renter in Ray pays $1,079 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. That is in line with the rest of North Dakota. The typical renter here spends 23.5% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 Ray
Bachelor's degrees in Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.3% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Ray have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.3%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.5% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.2% | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.0% | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.7% | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Ray never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S.
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 Ray
| Period | Ray | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.0% | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 0.1% | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.0% | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Ray than nationally: unemployment was 3.6%, against 5.4%. Still, the rate is higher than in North Dakota as a whole (2.8%). 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).
Ray compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray | 2.60 | 41.4 | 8.9% | 24.3% | 27.1% | 1987 | $1,079 | 16.3% | 87.7% | 3.6% |
| Wheelock | 2.74 | 37.5 | 10.7% | 27.0% | 27.1% | 1995 | $1,152 | 15.9% | 89.7% | 3.6% |
| Tioga | 2.28 | 33.3 | 10.3% | 45.1% | 35.3% | 1999 | $1,090 | 22.3% | 89.3% | 2.8% |
| Epping | 2.79 | 36.9 | 10.9% | 29.3% | 28.3% | 1996 | $1,116 | 17.0% | 89.3% | 4.1% |
| Springbrook | 2.85 | 35.7 | 11.4% | 29.9% | 28.7% | 1999 | $1,116 | 17.1% | 90.2% | 4.2% |
| White Earth | 2.26 | 41.1 | 12.0% | 16.8% | 27.5% | 1991 | $1,348 | 26.4% | 92.5% | 1.4% |
| Alamo | 2.25 | 49.5 | 3.2% | 8.9% | 27.4% | 1972 | $814 | 11.7% | 94.2% | 1.9% |
| Mcgregor | 2.29 | 47.1 | 5.1% | 13.1% | 29.3% | 1968 | $868 | 18.5% | 94.0% | 2.8% |
| Wildrose | 2.21 | 48.4 | 3.7% | 11.8% | 28.3% | 1964 | $901 | 21.3% | 94.1% | 2.2% |
| Corinth | 2.17 | 47.5 | 4.0% | 14.1% | 29.1% | 1957 | $973 | 29.1% | 94.1% | 2.4% |
| Williston | 2.65 | 32.8 | 10.7% | 49.6% | 25.0% | 1992 | $1,091 | 23.3% | 93.5% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Audubon Park, NJ · Bancroft, NE · Phillipsville, PA · Nemo, TX · New Castle, NH · New Greenleaf, MI · Nimitz, WV · Nordland, WA · Northfield, KY · Nortonville, KS
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 Ray. 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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