Population 39,555 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Williams County
Household size in Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.39 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Williams County average 2.64 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. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.25, even as the national average fell. Of North Dakota's 53 counties, only three have larger 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 Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.9 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.6 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.2 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −6.0 | −0.8 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 33.2, Williams County is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults and children. The median age has dropped from 39.2 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Only two 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 Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Williams County than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%. Still, single parents are more common here than in North Dakota as a whole (8.8%). The single-parent share is up 1.3 points from 2006–10, even as 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 Williams County
Renters in Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.8% | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.4% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 47.0% | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +18.2 pts | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Williams County than nationally: 47.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among owners, 50.9% have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 18.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only three of North Dakota's 53 counties have 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 Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | +16.2 pts | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 26.2% of the housing in Williams County, 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. Vacancy is up 16.2 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 Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +21 | +11 | +6 |
Williams County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the south. Of North Dakota's 53 counties, only two have newer homes.
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 Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $545 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $727 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $938 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,083 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$538 | +$458 | +$606 |
The median renter in Williams County pays $1,083 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in North Dakota as a whole ($1,031). Rents are up $538 a month from 2006–10, a 99% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 23.2% 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 Williams County
Bachelor's degrees in Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.5% | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.9% | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.2% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Williams County: 23.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
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 Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.0% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.6% | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.9% | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Williams County is above the national rate: 92.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of North Dakota. The share with a diploma is up 2.9 points from 2006–10, 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 Williams County
| Period | Williams County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.2% | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 1.4% | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Williams County runs below the national rate: 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Even so, the rate is higher than in North Dakota overall (2.8%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has risen 3.1 points, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Williams 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams County | 2.64 | 33.2 | 10.2% | 47.0% | 26.2% | 1992 | $1,083 | 23.2% | 92.9% | 4.3% |
| McKenzie County | 2.48 | 33.4 | 11.6% | 46.6% | 20.7% | 2005 | $1,471 | 17.9% | 89.7% | 2.4% |
| Richland County | 2.58 | 38.7 | 9.5% | 32.9% | 20.6% | 1980 | $908 | 22.2% | 95.3% | 3.1% |
| Mountrail County | 2.44 | 35.4 | 13.1% | 38.5% | 23.2% | 1997 | $1,050 | 23.4% | 89.0% | 1.1% |
| Roosevelt County | 3.51 | 30.7 | 19.0% | 33.4% | 23.9% | 1973 | $673 | 21.2% | 91.6% | 11.5% |
| Ward County | 2.45 | 36.0 | 9.3% | 39.2% | 12.6% | 1987 | $1,073 | 30.0% | 94.8% | 3.8% |
| McHenry County | 2.33 | 44.2 | 5.3% | 18.6% | 19.9% | 1967 | $748 | 20.5% | 91.2% | 3.9% |
| Valley County | 2.59 | 45.0 | 8.8% | 21.5% | 26.5% | 1966 | $785 | 26.0% | 94.6% | 3.3% |
| Pierce County | 2.05 | 42.7 | 6.1% | 18.4% | 10.3% | 1969 | $707 | 27.8% | 93.3% | 1.1% |
| Wells County | 2.19 | 46.1 | 5.2% | 22.9% | 18.7% | 1967 | $658 | 21.9% | 92.4% | 2.1% |
| Phillips County | 2.35 | 46.6 | 9.0% | 26.5% | 21.8% | 1974 | $538 | 25.0% | 95.1% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Adams County, IN · Seneca County, NY · Scotts Bluff County, NE · Bolivar County, MS · Atascosa County, TX · Amherst County, VA · Amador County, CA · Allegany County, NY · Alcorn County, MS · Albany County, WY
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 Williams 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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