Northwood, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Northwood is a small community located in North Dakota, within Grand Forks County. The total population is 1,046. It ranks as the 51st most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Northwood is 33.5 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 35.9 years. With 35.3% of the population under 18, Northwood has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 15.1% 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 Northwood is $78,571. This is 2% higher than the state median of $76,657. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.7%. This is 57% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 0.7%. This is 74% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $208,200. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Northwood is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Northwood has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.3%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

32.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about the same as 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 90.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Northwood, 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.