Finley, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 329, Finley's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Finley is a small community located in North Dakota, within Steele County. The total population is 329. It ranks as the 133rd most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Finley is 50.6 years. This is 41% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 28.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Finley is $74,643. This is 3% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.5%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 87% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $70,700. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x, Finley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Finley has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.9%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

34.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% higher 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 96.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Finley, North Dakota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Dakota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.