Benson County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

Name: Benson County, North Dakota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Benson County, North Dakota has a population of 5,808, the 21st most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $64,033 and the median home value is $90,000. The poverty rate is 25.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Benson County Quick Facts

Population 5,808

Median Household Income $64,033

Median Home Value $90,000

Poverty Rate 25.6%

Unemployment Rate 3.4%

Median Age 32.6 years

Homeownership Rate 73.1%

Affordability Ratio 1.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 21.9%

High School Graduation 87.6%

Cities/Places 10

Population 5,808 21st of 53

Median Income $64,033 16% lower than state

Poverty Rate 25.6%

Unemployment 3.4%

How Benson County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	5,861	5,808	-0.9%
Median household income	$68,049	$64,033	-5.9%
Median home value	$83,100	$90,000	+8.3%

Median Household Income

Benson

$64,033

$76,657

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Benson

$90,000

$249,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 30.4%

$25K-$50K 12.7%

$50K-$100K 29.9%

$100K+ 27.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

14.0%

$10K-$15K

6.5%

$15K-$20K

4.3%

$20K-$25K

5.7%

$25K-$30K

3.4%

$30K-$35K

2.5%

$35K-$40K

2.0%

$40K-$45K

2.8%

$45K-$50K

2.1%

$50K-$60K

3.5%

$60K-$75K

11.7%

$75K-$100K

14.7%

$100K-$125K

9.7%

$125K-$150K

3.9%

$150K-$200K

6.8%

$200K+

6.5%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 2.8%|National: 5.2%

52.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 73.1%

Renter 26.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $588/mo 11.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

33.5%

18-34

19.2%

35-54

19.9%

55-74

21.3%

75+

6.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 32 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Benson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Fort Totten	1,038	$20,250	39.8%	N/A
Leeds	503	$86,172	6.8%	$94,100
Maddock	474	$44,219	26.6%	$41,300
Minnewaukan	191	$36,818	28.3%	$105,400
Warwick	83	$45,625	25.3%	$42,500
Esmond	78	$15,179	50.0%	$142,500
Oberon	39	N/A	0.0%	$53,800
Brinsmade	21	N/A	38.1%	N/A
Knox	18	$61,250	11.1%	$160,400
York	6	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore North Dakota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Benson County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 5,808. It is the 21st most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benson County is 32.6 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 35.9 years. With 33.5% of the population under 18, Benson County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benson County is $64,033. This is 16% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.6%. This is 137% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $90,000. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Benson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Benson County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.9%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

21.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 32.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Benson County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Dakota and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Benson County, North Dakota?

Benson County has a population of 5,808, making it the 21st most populous county in North Dakota.

What is the median income in Benson County?

The median household income in Benson County is $64,033 with a poverty rate of 25.6%.

How many cities are in Benson County, North Dakota?

Benson County contains 10 Census-designated places.