Ward County, North Dakota Demographics 2026
Ward County, North Dakota has a population of 68,973, the 4th most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $78,238 and the median home value is $267,100. The poverty rate is 8.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Ward County Quick Facts
How Ward 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 | 69,232 | 68,973 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $79,273 | $78,238 | -1.3% |
| Median home value | $259,100 | $267,100 | +3.1% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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 Ward County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot | 47,791 | $73,219 | 11.1% | $257,100 |
| Minot AFB | 4,878 | $62,500 | 1.2% | N/A |
| Surrey | 1,721 | $106,438 | 1.4% | $315,800 |
| Burlington | 1,067 | $77,708 | 3.0% | $243,500 |
| Kenmare | 1,002 | $64,077 | 8.0% | $115,500 |
| Berthold | 415 | $96,000 | 2.4% | $180,000 |
| Sawyer | 353 | $76,250 | 9.0% | $210,700 |
| Carpio | 184 | $68,750 | 3.3% | $130,600 |
| Des Lacs | 163 | $70,000 | 1.2% | $130,000 |
| Ruthville | 104 | $48,077 | 38.4% | $13,900 |
| Ryder | 100 | $40,313 | 32.0% | $53,300 |
| Douglas | 94 | $60,000 | 2.1% | $55,000 |
| Makoti | 84 | $75,750 | 0.0% | $84,500 |
| Donnybrook | 74 | N/A | 0.0% | $118,800 |
| Logan | 70 | $75,139 | 0.0% | $206,800 |
| Foxholm | 34 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore North Dakota Rankings
Population Overview
Ward County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 68,973. It is the 4th most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 16 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ward County is 33.6 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 35.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ward County is $78,238. This is 2% higher than the state median of $76,657. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 21% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 29% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $267,100. Housing costs are 7% higher than the state median of $249,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 60.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 62.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Ward County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (7.2% vs 4.7%).
Education
29.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% 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 94.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Ward 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 Ward County, North Dakota?
Ward County has a population of 68,973, 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 $78,238 with a poverty rate of 8.6%.
How many cities are in Ward County, North Dakota?
Ward County contains 16 Census-designated places.