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COUNTY

Ward County

North Dakota · 68,233 residents (2025 est.) · 2,013 sq mi
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The short version

Ward County is home to 68,973 people in North Dakota. That puts it in the top 6% of US counties for household income. This skews young, with a median age of 33.6. 4% of residents were born outside the United States. There are 34 people per square mile. People stay put here: 79% were in the same home a year ago.

At a glance
Average income
median household income $78,238, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 98%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Ward County

What changed most since 1990

  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$128,644 → $267,100 (+108%)US over the same years: +67%
  • Median household income (2024 dollars)$55,192 → $78,238 (+42%)US over the same years: +14%

Among the 53 counties in North Dakota

  • 18th in household income$78,238
  • 10th in share with a bachelor's degree29.6%
  • 8th in home value$267,100
  • 6th in diversity score42.8
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
68,973
+17%since 2000
from 58,795 in 2000
68,233 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
34 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 29 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.6
+4%since 2000
from 32.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
2,013 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
55K59K63K67K71K19902000201020202024Ward County
202469K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57%(4,811)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(4,335)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.9%(4,791)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.8%(4,676)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.6%(5,955)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.8%(11,570)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.6%(9,375)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.6%(6,591)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.5%(7,233)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748%(5,517)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.8%(2,649)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(1,470)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,238
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,670 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,089
+155%since 2000
from $16,926 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.8%
+27.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
+5%since 2010
from 0.417 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade7.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing3.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$267,100
+98%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,048
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $408 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 62.6% in 2000
39.2% rent
Vacancy rate
12.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.35 people
+4%since 2009
from 2.26 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
16.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.6%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+46%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
63
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.5%(53,786)
Black2.1%(1,262)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(1,125)
Asian0.8%(474)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.4%(55,434)
Black3.9%(2,720)
Hispanic / Latino7.2%(4,947)
Asian1.5%(1,021)
Other7%(4,851)
Diversity Score
43
+82%since 2009
from 24 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
24
+7%since 2020
from 22 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.5%(2,427)
Puerto Rican1.5%(1,030)
Cuban0.4%(250)
Spaniard0.3%(222)
Nicaraguan0.2%(136)
Salvadoran0.2%(134)
Ecuadorian0.2%(116)
Guatemalan0.1%(100)
Peruvian0.1%(46)
Dominican0.1%(41)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.7%(476)
Chinese0.2%(153)
Indonesian0.2%(146)
Japanese0.2%(129)
Nepalese0.1%(70)
Korean0.1%(61)
Thai0.1%(57)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(49)
Samoan0%(8)
Tongan0%(1)
Ancestry
German30.2%(20,838)
Norwegian22.1%(15,252)
Irish8.7%(6,023)
English6.3%(4,348)
Swedish2.8%(1,928)
French2.6%(1,767)
American2.4%(1,651)
Polish1.5%(1,028)
Italian1.4%(949)
Scottish1.3%(927)
Russian1.3%(877)
Ukrainian1.2%(828)
+ 37 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.1%(763)
Danish1%(687)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(491)
Finnish0.5%(340)
Czech0.4%(306)
Welsh0.4%(298)
Austrian0.3%(197)
Swiss0.3%(193)
Arab0.2%(169)
Canadian0.2%(168)
Somali0.2%(156)
British0.2%(142)
West Indian0.2%(128)
Jamaican0.2%(120)
Greek0.1%(103)
Romanian0.1%(95)
Belgian0.1%(88)
Portuguese0.1%(83)
Ghanaian0.1%(76)
Lithuanian0.1%(72)
Hungarian0.1%(45)
Australian0.1%(37)
Nigerian0.1%(36)
Lebanese0%(31)
Bulgarian0%(30)
Jordanian0%(25)
Turkish0%(17)
Iranian0%(15)
Egyptian0%(11)
Israeli0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.6%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 22.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 87.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.3 min
+87%since 2000
from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 2.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 72.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
76.3%
−4.0 ptssince 2020
from 80.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
16.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.0%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
47.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.8%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2012
from 11.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2013
from 9.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+5.8 ptssince 2017
from 84.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 93.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
79.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 78.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
94.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 94.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.4%(10,466)
Married51.6%(14,852)
Widowed1.9%(554)
Divorced10.1%(2,915)
Women 15+
Never married25.5%(6,682)
Married54.8%(14,390)
Widowed7.5%(1,977)
Divorced12.2%(3,200)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2013
from 9.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
58.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2020
from 60.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
17.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 18.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
15.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 13.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
11.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 9.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
81.3%
−2.8 ptssince 2020
from 84.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
26.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 23.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)50.3%(2,617)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)31.2%(1,623)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era20.6%(1,072)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.6%(291)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 5,201 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Ward County, decade by decade

Ward County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199057,921$55,192$128,64419.0%16.0
200058,795$61,335$135,16722.1%20.1
201061,675$70,192$170,03925.8%26.1
202069,919$82,537$263,86129.0%44.6
202468,973$78,238$267,10029.6%42.8

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Ward County

Catoosa County
Pop 69,628
Kenai Peninsula
Pop 61,951
Floyd County
Pop 82,153
Camden County
Pop 60,143
Places similar to Ward County
Head to head

Compare Ward County to nearby counties

WARD COUNTY VS
Renville County
Income$74,301−5%
Home value$166,000−38%
Population2,331−97%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WARD COUNTY VS
Mountrail County
Income$80,717+3%
Home value$232,700−13%
Population9,395−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WARD COUNTY VS
McLean County
Income$83,583+7%
Home value$227,100−15%
Population9,740−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WARD COUNTY VS
McHenry County
Income$80,733+3%
Home value$151,000−43%
Population5,130−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ward County, North Dakota?

Ward County, North Dakota has about 68,973 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Ward County, North Dakota earns about $78,238 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ward County, North Dakota expensive?

In Ward County, North Dakota, the median home is worth about $267,100, and the typical rent is about $1,048 a month.

How educated are people in Ward County, North Dakota?

About 29.6% of adults age 25 and over in Ward County, North Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 8.6% of people in Ward County, North Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ward County, North Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Ward County, North Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 11,052 residents, a change of about 19 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 →