Golden Valley County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Golden Valley County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 1,653. It is the 50th most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Golden Valley County is 47.2 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 12.0% 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 Golden Valley County is $68,021. This is 11% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.8%. This is 83% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $123,900. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Golden Valley County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Golden Valley County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.6%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 4.7%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

22.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 96.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Golden Valley 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.