Sarles, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 19, Sarles's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Sarles is a small community located in North Dakota, within Cavalier County. The total population is 19. It ranks as the 364th most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sarles is 52.1 years. This is 45% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 26.3% 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 Sarles is $2,499. This is 97% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 97% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.3%. This is 143% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Sarles, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $9,999. Housing costs are 96% lower than the state median of $249,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 59% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sarles is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.0% of the population.

Education

36.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 32.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sarles, 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.