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COUNTY

Foster County

North Dakota · 3,212 residents (2025 est.) · 634.08 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#52Shortest commutesof 3,14312.9#89Lowest unemploymentof 3,1441.0%
The short version

Foster County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $87,831. Population has declined 11% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $167,500. It ranks in the top 5% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 67%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,358
−11%since 2000
from 3,759 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5 / sq mi
−2%since 2009
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.4
+7%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,212 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K4K4K4K1990201020202024Foster County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(195)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98%(268)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.8%(127)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.6%(154)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.2%(108)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.7%(459)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.5%(387)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.2%(375)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.1%(475)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413%(437)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.1%(205)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5%(168)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$87,831
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,019 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$46,993
+162%since 2000
from $17,928 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
56.6%
+35.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
−14%since 2010
from 0.514 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade13.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Construction6.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$167,500
+67%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$780
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $342 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.4% in 2000
20.3% rent
Vacancy rate
13.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
8.4%
−10.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.1%
+20.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
+5%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
94
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Foster County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.9%(3,717)
Black0.1%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(7)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(3,126)
Black0.3%(10)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(57)
Asian1.8%(61)
Other3.1%(104)
Diversity Score
16
+633%since 2009
from 2 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
Mexican1.2%(41)
Argentine0.3%(11)
Cuban0.1%(5)
Asian origin
Bangladeshi1.4%(47)
Uzbek0.2%(6)
Ancestry
German38.7%(1,301)
Norwegian28.6%(962)
Irish7.3%(245)
English5.4%(181)
Swedish3.6%(122)
Italian3.2%(106)
Scottish2%(68)
Dutch1.7%(58)
Polish1.7%(57)
French1.6%(53)
American1.2%(40)
Czech0.9%(30)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.4%(13)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(11)
Russian0.2%(7)
Lithuanian0.2%(6)
Hungarian0.1%(3)
Austrian0.1%(2)
Portuguese0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.5%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.2%
+15.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.9 min
+26%since 2000
from 10.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 75.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 1.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.6%
+5.2 ptssince 2011
from 62.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.6%
−29.1 ptssince 2009
from 67.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
48.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.5%
−44.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−89.1 ptssince 2013
from 94.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.6%
+18.8 ptssince 2017
from 73.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.7%(385)
Married59.1%(852)
Widowed4.6%(66)
Divorced9.6%(138)
Women 15+
Never married11.9%(158)
Married67.1%(890)
Widowed10.9%(145)
Divorced10.1%(134)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 2,740
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Places similar to Foster County
Head to head

Compare Foster County to nearby counties

FOSTER COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income$50,850−42%
Home value$124,000−26%
Population2,329−27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOSTER COUNTY VS
Griggs County
Income$61,711−30%
Home value$119,300−29%
Population2,239−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOSTER COUNTY VS
Stutsman County
Income$61,856−30%
Home value$208,400+24%
Population21,414+567%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOSTER COUNTY VS
Wells County
Income$66,114−25%
Home value$114,500−32%
Population3,729+16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Foster County, North Dakota?

Foster County, North Dakota has about 3,358 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Foster County, North Dakota?

The typical household in Foster County, North Dakota earns about $87,831 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Foster County, North Dakota expensive?

In Foster County, North Dakota, the median home is worth about $167,500, and the typical rent is about $780 a month.

How educated are people in Foster County, North Dakota?

About 28.5% of adults age 25 and over in Foster County, North Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Foster County, North Dakota?

About 8.8% of people in Foster County, North Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Foster County, North Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Foster County, North Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 625 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9596
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 58421ZIP 58443ZIP 58445
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →