Steele County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

Name: Steele County, North Dakota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Steele County, North Dakota has a population of 1,804, the 49th most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $77,500 and the median home value is $130,700. The poverty rate is 12.9%.

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

Steele County Quick Facts

Population 1,804

Median Household Income $77,500

Median Home Value $130,700

Poverty Rate 12.9%

Unemployment Rate 3.3%

Median Age 46.9 years

Homeownership Rate 77.8%

Affordability Ratio 1.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 28.8%

High School Graduation 95.4%

Cities/Places 4

Population 1,804 49th of 53

Median Income $77,500 1% higher than state

Poverty Rate 12.9%

Unemployment 3.3%

How Steele County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	1,731	1,804	+4.2%
Median household income	$80,313	$77,500	-3.5%
Median home value	$120,400	$130,700	+8.6%

Median Household Income

Steele

$77,500

$76,657

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Steele

$130,700

$249,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.0%

$25K-$50K 17.6%

$50K-$100K 25.6%

$100K+ 38.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.4%

$10K-$15K

1.1%

$15K-$20K

4.3%

$20K-$25K

3.1%

$25K-$30K

6.1%

$30K-$35K

2.4%

$35K-$40K

0.7%

$40K-$45K

4.6%

$45K-$50K

3.9%

$50K-$60K

6.1%

$60K-$75K

7.6%

$75K-$100K

11.9%

$100K-$125K

9.4%

$125K-$150K

6.1%

$150K-$200K

14.1%

$200K+

9.2%

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 2.8%|National: 5.2%

57.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.8%

Renter 22.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $738/mo 11.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.8%

18-34

15.1%

35-54

21.1%

55-74

25.6%

75+

16.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 32 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Steele County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hope	339	$54,125	10.6%	$97,800
Finley	329	$74,643	15.5%	$70,700
Sharon	101	N/A	30.7%	N/A
Luverne	52	$116,563	23.1%	N/A

Explore North Dakota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Steele County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 1,804. It is the 49th most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Steele County is 46.9 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 16.4% 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 Steele County is $77,500. This is 1% higher than the state median of $76,657. It is also 4% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.9%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $130,700. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Steele County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Steele County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.9%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

28.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% 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 95.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Steele 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 Steele County, North Dakota?

Steele County has a population of 1,804, making it the 49th most populous county in North Dakota.

What is the median income in Steele County?

The median household income in Steele County is $77,500 with a poverty rate of 12.9%.

How many cities are in Steele County, North Dakota?

Steele County contains 4 Census-designated places.