McLean County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

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

McLean County, North Dakota has a population of 9,823, the 15th most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $83,583 and the median home value is $227,100. The poverty rate is 8.9%.

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

McLean County Quick Facts

Population 9,823

Median Household Income $83,583

Median Home Value $227,100

Poverty Rate 8.9%

Unemployment Rate 1.4%

Median Age 47.7 years

Homeownership Rate 84.2%

Affordability Ratio 2.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 26.1%

High School Graduation 93.9%

Cities/Places 12

Population 9,823 15th of 53

Median Income $83,583 9% higher than state

Poverty Rate 8.9%

Unemployment 1.4%

How McLean 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	9,807	9,823	+0.2%
Median household income	$81,847	$83,583	+2.1%
Median home value	$233,100	$227,100	-2.6%

Median Household Income

McLean

$83,583

$76,657

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

McLean

$227,100

$249,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.3%

$25K-$50K 16.4%

$50K-$100K 30.6%

$100K+ 41.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.1%

$10K-$15K

2.6%

$15K-$20K

2.3%

$20K-$25K

3.3%

$25K-$30K

2.8%

$30K-$35K

3.6%

$35K-$40K

2.2%

$40K-$45K

4.4%

$45K-$50K

3.5%

$50K-$60K

7.8%

$60K-$75K

10.9%

$75K-$100K

11.9%

$100K-$125K

11.7%

$125K-$150K

10.7%

$150K-$200K

12.4%

$200K+

7.0%

Employment

1.4% Unemployment Rate State: 2.8%|National: 5.2%

58.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 84.2%

Renter 15.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $784/mo 11.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.1%

18-34

15.4%

35-54

22.2%

55-74

30.8%

75+

10.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in McLean County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Washburn	1,507	$73,413	10.7%	$238,200
Garrison	1,397	$71,974	6.5%	$165,800
Underwood	699	$85,577	10.2%	$191,200
Turtle Lake	500	$67,639	12.1%	$120,100
Max	358	$80,208	1.4%	$137,500
White Shield	246	$68,750	29.3%	N/A
Benedict	227	$61,791	0.4%	$241,000
Riverdale	187	$73,333	4.3%	$222,700
Butte	68	N/A	22.1%	$137,500
Coleharbor	66	$78,750	7.6%	$166,700
Mercer	66	$46,429	34.8%	$84,300
Ruso	4	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

McLean County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 9,823. It is the 15th most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in McLean County is 47.7 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 10.5% 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 McLean County is $83,583. This is 9% higher than the state median of $76,657. It is also 4% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 18% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $227,100. Housing costs are 9% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, McLean County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

McLean County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

26.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% 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 93.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for McLean 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 McLean County, North Dakota?

McLean County has a population of 9,823, making it the 15th most populous county in North Dakota.

What is the median income in McLean County?

The median household income in McLean County is $83,583 with a poverty rate of 8.9%.

How many cities are in McLean County, North Dakota?

McLean County contains 12 Census-designated places.