Scranton, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 387, Scranton'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

Scranton is a small community located in North Dakota, within Bowman County. The total population is 387. It ranks as the 121st most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Scranton is 34.3 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 35.9 years. With 34.1% of the population under 18, Scranton has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 14.0% 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 Scranton is $79,750. This is 4% higher than the state median of $76,657. It is also 1% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.8%. This is 55% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 83% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $117,500. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Scranton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Scranton is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.5% of the population.

Education

21.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 84.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Scranton, 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.