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CITY

Watford City

North Dakota · 6,378 residents (2025 est.) · 8.977 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#56Lowest unemploymentof 6,8260.6%#300Youngest by median ageof 6,82628.8
The short version

Watford City is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $102,260. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 4,604 residents. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $408,500. At a median age of 28.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 423%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,039
+321%since 2000
from 1,435 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
673 / sq mi
+288%since 2009
from 173 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
28.8
−35%since 2000
from 44.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,378 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8873K4K6K7K1990201020202024Watford City
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.7%(464)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 99.1%(549)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.1%(550)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(376)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(339)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3428.1%(1,694)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.4%(627)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(721)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 646.8%(408)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 743.2%(193)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 841.1%(66)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.9%(52)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$102,260
+89%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,688 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$48,675
+169%since 2000
from $18,084 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
66.0%
+36.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.8%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.378
−9%since 2010
from 0.417 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing26.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing21.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade16.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance8.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Information6.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical6.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction5.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade3.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$408,500
+423%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,336
+163%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $279 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
29.3%
−40.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.0% in 2000
70.7% rent
Vacancy rate
24.7%
+12.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
23.0%
−25.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+142%since 2009
from 1.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
65
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Watford City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(1,351)
Black0.2%(3)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(16)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic66.6%(4,023)
Black2.5%(151)
Hispanic / Latino24.5%(1,480)
Asian0.9%(52)
Other5.5%(333)
Diversity Score
62
+242%since 2009
from 18 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican17%(1,025)
Spaniard5.6%(341)
Puerto Rican1.1%(65)
Salvadoran0.7%(45)
Cuban0.1%(4)
Asian origin
Filipino0.9%(52)
Ancestry
English11.6%(703)
German9.3%(562)
Norwegian8.3%(500)
Irish6.7%(402)
Italian3.4%(204)
American2.5%(150)
French2.1%(128)
Czech1.7%(102)
Scottish1.2%(74)
Swiss1%(60)
Swedish0.9%(54)
Ukrainian0.6%(36)
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.4%(26)
Egyptian0.4%(26)
Polish0.4%(26)
Canadian0.3%(17)
Russian0.2%(14)
Finnish0%(2)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.8%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 77.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.8 min
+48%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.1%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 69.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.8%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.9%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.5%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2011
from 0.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
80.1%
+14.7 ptssince 2011
from 65.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.6%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 64.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.9%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
Female
44.1%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
Foreign born
9.7%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−38.1 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
6.1%
−10.4 ptssince 2012
from 16.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.7%
−84.9 ptssince 2013
from 91.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.0%
+11.5 ptssince 2017
from 78.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.3%
−7.8 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.7%
+8.2 ptssince 2016
from 2.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married50.3%(1,310)
Married42.8%(1,113)
Widowed1.1%(29)
Divorced5.8%(150)
Women 15+
Never married35.6%(668)
Married54.9%(1,028)
Widowed3.9%(73)
Divorced5.6%(105)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Watford City, North Dakota?

Watford City, North Dakota has about 6,039 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Watford City, North Dakota?

The typical household in Watford City, North Dakota earns about $102,260 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Watford City, North Dakota expensive?

In Watford City, North Dakota, the median home is worth about $408,500, and the typical rent is about $1,336 a month.

How educated are people in Watford City, North Dakota?

About 18.9% of adults age 25 and over in Watford City, North Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Watford City, North Dakota?

About 7.8% of people in Watford City, North Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Watford City, North Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Watford City, North Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,243 residents, a change of about 236 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →