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Ward County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

Ward County, North Dakota has a population of 69,232, the 4th most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $79,273 and the median home value is $259,100. The poverty rate is 7.8%.

Ward County Quick Facts

Population 69,232
Median Household Income $79,273
Median Home Value $259,100
Poverty Rate 7.8%
Unemployment Rate 3.4%
Median Age 33.3 years
Homeownership Rate 61.9%
Affordability Ratio 3.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 29.7%
High School Graduation 95.1%
Cities/Places 12
Population 69,232 4th of 53
Median Income $79,273 4% higher state
Poverty Rate 7.8%
Unemployment 3.4%

Economy & Housing

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 2.8% | National: 5.2%
72.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 61.9%
Renter 38.1%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.3x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

33out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 31 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Ward County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Minot city47,922$77,4319.7%$254,400
Surrey city1,672$105,1252.0%$302,200
Burlington city1,169$95,2162.7%$237,800
Kenmare city1,027$64,1677.0%$122,000
Berthold city444$90,9720.4%$209,100
Sawyer city305$65,6258.8%$181,300
Carpio city169$61,2501.2%$88,900
Des Lacs city161$66,7500.6%$133,300
Ryder city135$41,25026.7%$55,000
Douglas city84$66,2502.4%$52,500
Donnybrook city79$47,5000.0%$95,000
Makoti city75$60,00013.3%$81,000

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

Ward County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 69,232. It is the 4th most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ward County is 33.3 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 35.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ward County is $79,273. This is 4% higher than the state median of $75,949. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 7.8%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 21% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $259,100. Housing costs are 7% higher than the state median of $241,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 61.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 63.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ward County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (6.9% vs 4.5%).

Education

29.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 32.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.1%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Ward County, North Dakota?

Ward County has a population of 69,232, making it the 4th most populous county in North Dakota.

What is the median income in Ward County?

The median household income in Ward County is $79,273 with a poverty rate of 7.8%.

How many cities are in Ward County, North Dakota?

Ward County contains 12 Census-designated places.