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Richland County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

Richland County, North Dakota has a population of 16,584, the 9th most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $75,432 and the median home value is $183,600. The poverty rate is 9.7%.

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

Richland County Quick Facts

Population 16,584
Median Household Income $75,432
Median Home Value $183,600
Poverty Rate 9.7%
Unemployment Rate 1.7%
Median Age 38.0 years
Homeownership Rate 68.1%
Affordability Ratio 2.4x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.9%
High School Graduation 94.5%
Cities/Places 14
Population 16,584 9th of 53
Median Income $75,432 2% lower than state
Poverty Rate 9.7%
Unemployment 1.7%

How Richland 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
Population16,55016,584+0.2%
Median household income$72,524$75,432+4.0%
Median home value$177,600$183,600+3.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.8%
$25K-$50K 17.7%
$50K-$100K 31.4%
$100K+ 36.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.8%
$10K-$15K
3.0%
$15K-$20K
4.5%
$20K-$25K
3.5%
$25K-$30K
2.9%
$30K-$35K
3.9%
$35K-$40K
2.4%
$40K-$45K
4.0%
$45K-$50K
4.5%
$50K-$60K
7.1%
$60K-$75K
10.0%
$75K-$100K
14.3%
$100K-$125K
10.6%
$125K-$150K
8.3%
$150K-$200K
7.8%
$200K+
9.4%

Employment

1.7% Unemployment Rate State: 2.8%|National: 5.2%
66.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.1%
Renter 31.9%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.4x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $740/mo 11.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

21out 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 Richland County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Wahpeton8,010$62,75015.6%$171,300
Hankinson804$74,6436.7%$131,000
Lidgerwood719$49,6679.5%$80,200
Wyndmere509$85,62512.4%$162,900
Fairmount292$59,37510.3%$93,800
Colfax272$104,3750.4%$215,000
Walcott272$93,1259.4%$188,900
Christine255$94,0181.6%$333,300
Abercrombie232$64,8449.0%$156,300
Mooreton175$86,25029.7%$156,300
Dwight47$144,5830.0%$200,000
Barney42$51,25014.3%$109,400
Great Bend37$61,7505.4%$68,800
Mantador37$56,6670.0%N/A

Population Overview

Richland County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 16,584. It is the 9th most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Richland County is 38.0 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 35.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Richland County is $75,432. This is 2% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $183,600. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Richland County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Richland County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

24.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 94.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Richland 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 Richland County, North Dakota?

Richland County has a population of 16,584, making it the 9th most populous county in North Dakota.

What is the median income in Richland County?

The median household income in Richland County is $75,432 with a poverty rate of 9.7%.

How many cities are in Richland County, North Dakota?

Richland County contains 14 Census-designated places.