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Pembina County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

Pembina County, North Dakota has a population of 6,727, the 19th most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $68,393 and the median home value is $119,200. The poverty rate is 9.3%.

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

Pembina County Quick Facts

Population 6,727
Median Household Income $68,393
Median Home Value $119,200
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Unemployment Rate 3.4%
Median Age 45.5 years
Homeownership Rate 74.6%
Affordability Ratio 1.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.6%
High School Graduation 92.2%
Cities/Places 11
Population 6,727 19th of 53
Median Income $68,393 11% lower than state
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Unemployment 3.4%

How Pembina 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
Population6,7876,727-0.9%
Median household income$66,884$68,393+2.3%
Median home value$116,600$119,200+2.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.5%
$25K-$50K 20.6%
$50K-$100K 29.3%
$100K+ 33.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.2%
$10K-$15K
3.6%
$15K-$20K
6.3%
$20K-$25K
3.5%
$25K-$30K
4.7%
$30K-$35K
3.6%
$35K-$40K
5.6%
$40K-$45K
2.7%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
6.2%
$60K-$75K
11.2%
$75K-$100K
11.9%
$100K-$125K
9.4%
$125K-$150K
8.5%
$150K-$200K
7.9%
$200K+
7.8%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 2.8%|National: 5.2%
60.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 74.6%
Renter 25.4%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.7x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $684/mo 12.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

22out 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 Pembina County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Cavalier1,426$60,4496.2%$170,400
Walhalla865$34,10715.0%$93,000
Drayton763$70,2505.6%$107,500
Pembina625$101,8757.7%$136,200
Neche398$82,50010.1%$92,500
St. Thomas306$72,5009.5%$79,300
Crystal103N/A1.9%$67,600
Mountain100$52,5006.1%$99,000
Bathgate56N/A58.9%$50,000
Hamilton39$83,75015.4%$46,300
Canton City (Hensel)28N/A25.0%$26,300

Population Overview

Pembina County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 6,727. It is the 19th most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pembina County is 45.5 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 11.0% 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 Pembina County is $68,393. This is 11% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.3%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $119,200. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Pembina County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pembina County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

24.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% 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 92.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Pembina 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 Pembina County, North Dakota?

Pembina County has a population of 6,727, making it the 19th most populous county in North Dakota.

What is the median income in Pembina County?

The median household income in Pembina County is $68,393 with a poverty rate of 9.3%.

How many cities are in Pembina County, North Dakota?

Pembina County contains 11 Census-designated places.