Grand Forks, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Grand Forks, North Dakota had a total population of 59,042, the 3rd largest city in North Dakota, with a median household income of $63,627, which is 17% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Grand Forks is the 3rd largest city in North Dakota with a population of 59,042.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.4%.
Grand Forks Quick Facts
How Grand Forks 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 | 58,882 | 59,042 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $63,838 | $63,627 | -0.3% |
| Median home value | $243,300 | $249,900 | +2.7% |
How Grand Forks Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 32 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Grand Forks Rankings in North Dakota
Explore North Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Grand Forks County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks AFB | 1,987 | $72,782 | 4.0% | $9,999 |
| Larimore | 1,240 | $87,546 | 8.3% | $203,900 |
| Thompson | 1,138 | $118,281 | 1.5% | $281,900 |
| Northwood | 1,046 | $78,571 | 4.7% | $208,200 |
| Manvel | 368 | $91,719 | 1.6% | $203,700 |
| Reynolds | 349 | $93,750 | 1.1% | $167,300 |
| Emerado | 346 | $70,938 | 7.2% | $204,800 |
| Gilby | 322 | $92,188 | 0.0% | $110,400 |
| Inkster | 27 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Niagara | 24 | $88,750 | 0.0% | $100,000 |
Cities Similar to Grand Forks
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot | 47,791 | $73,219 | $257,100 | 29.7% | 11.1% |
| Bismarck | 75,556 | $78,387 | $300,300 | 39.2% | 9.3% |
| West Fargo | 40,094 | $90,665 | $321,900 | 42.1% | 8.8% |
| Fargo | 131,627 | $66,998 | $281,900 | 43.0% | 12.9% |
| Williston | 28,056 | $79,381 | $286,200 | 25.8% | 8.1% |
Population Overview
Grand Forks is a mid-sized community located in North Dakota, within Grand Forks County. The total population is 59,042. It ranks as the 3rd most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Grand Forks is 29.6 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 35.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Grand Forks is $63,627. This is 17% 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 15.5%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $249,900. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $249,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 46.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 62.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Grand Forks is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.5%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.3% vs 1.6%).
Education
40.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% 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 95.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Grand Forks, 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.
Free data download: Get all North Dakota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Grand Forks, North Dakota?
Grand Forks, North Dakota has a population of 59,042 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Grand Forks, ND?
The median household income in Grand Forks is $63,627, which is 21% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Grand Forks, ND?
The poverty rate in Grand Forks is 15.5%. This means approximately 8,490 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Grand Forks, North Dakota?
Grand Forks's population is 79.7% White, 4.3% Black, 5.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 3.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Grand Forks, ND?
The median home value in Grand Forks is $249,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x.
How educated is Grand Forks, North Dakota?
40.0% of adults (25+) in Grand Forks hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.