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Foster County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

Foster County, North Dakota has a population of 3,358, the 32nd most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $87,831 and the median home value is $167,500. The poverty rate is 8.8%.

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

Foster County Quick Facts

Population 3,358
Median Household Income $87,831
Median Home Value $167,500
Poverty Rate 8.8%
Unemployment Rate 1.0%
Median Age 43.4 years
Homeownership Rate 79.7%
Affordability Ratio 1.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 28.5%
High School Graduation 93.2%
Cities/Places 4
Population 3,358 32nd of 53
Median Income $87,831 15% higher than state
Poverty Rate 8.8%
Unemployment 1.0%

How Foster County Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population3,3723,358-0.4%
Median household income$83,412$87,831+5.3%
Median home value$162,800$167,500+2.9%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.0%
$25K-$50K 11.1%
$50K-$100K 28.0%
$100K+ 42.9%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
8.4%
$10K-$15K
3.3%
$15K-$20K
3.3%
$20K-$25K
3.0%
$25K-$30K
2.4%
$30K-$35K
4.5%
$35K-$40K
0.7%
$40K-$45K
1.2%
$45K-$50K
2.2%
$50K-$60K
4.0%
$60K-$75K
10.4%
$75K-$100K
13.7%
$100K-$125K
13.2%
$125K-$150K
9.1%
$150K-$200K
8.9%
$200K+
11.7%

Employment

1.0% Unemployment Rate State: 2.8%|National: 5.2%
67.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.7%
Renter 20.3%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $780/mo 10.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

13out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 32 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Foster County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Carrington2,168$77,1719.7%$150,600
McHenry66$2,49937.9%N/A
Glenfield63N/A3.2%N/A
Grace City61$71,2504.9%$22,500

Population Overview

Foster County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 3,358. It is the 32nd most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Foster County is 43.4 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 11.1% 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 Foster County is $87,831. This is 15% higher than the state median of $76,657. It is also 9% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.8%. This is 19% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.0%. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $167,500. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Foster County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Foster County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.1% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.8%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

28.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% 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 93.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Foster 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 Foster County, North Dakota?

Foster County has a population of 3,358, making it the 32nd most populous county in North Dakota.

What is the median income in Foster County?

The median household income in Foster County is $87,831 with a poverty rate of 8.8%.

How many cities are in Foster County, North Dakota?

Foster County contains 4 Census-designated places.