Willow City, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Willow City, North Dakota had a total population of 238, the 164th largest city in North Dakota, with a median household income of $74,375, which is 3% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 5.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x.
Willow City Quick Facts
How Willow City 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 | 126 | 238 | +88.9% |
| Median household income | $69,000 | $74,375 | +7.8% |
| Median home value | $51,700 | $64,500 | +24.8% |
How Willow City Compares
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+)
Willow City Rankings in North Dakota
Explore North Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Bottineau County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottineau | 2,205 | $65,905 | 12.0% | $165,000 |
| Westhope | 435 | $69,479 | 8.5% | $102,800 |
| Lansford | 216 | $72,500 | 5.1% | $156,300 |
| Newburg | 67 | $90,781 | 9.0% | $100,000 |
| Maxbass | 56 | N/A | 30.4% | $40,000 |
| Landa | 52 | $140,227 | 0.0% | N/A |
| Souris | 38 | N/A | 23.7% | N/A |
| Gardena | 37 | N/A | 0.0% | $2,000,000+ |
| Kramer | 21 | $78,750 | 0.0% | $81,700 |
| Antler | 15 | $45,417 | 33.3% | $36,300 |
Cities Similar to Willow City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kensal | 233 | $75,000 | $118,800 | 26.8% | 1.7% |
| Edmore | 240 | $70,792 | $85,000 | 43.3% | 22.6% |
| White Shield | 246 | $68,750 | N/A | 23.2% | 29.3% |
| Hoople | 228 | $79,250 | $100,000 | 17.5% | 19.7% |
| Abercrombie | 232 | $64,844 | $156,300 | 18.3% | 9.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 238, Willow City'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
Willow City is a small community located in North Dakota, within Bottineau County. The total population is 238. It ranks as the 164th most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Willow City is 51.5 years. This is 43% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 17.6% 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 Willow City is $74,375. This is 3% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.9%. This is 46% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Willow City, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $64,500. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x, Willow City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% higher than the state average of 62.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
Willow City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.9% of all residents.
Education
18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 94.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Willow City, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Willow City, North Dakota?
Willow City, North Dakota has a population of 238 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Willow City, ND?
The median household income in Willow City is $74,375, which is 8% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Willow City, ND?
The poverty rate in Willow City is 5.9%. This means approximately 14 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Willow City, North Dakota?
Willow City's population is 89.9% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Willow City, ND?
The median home value in Willow City is $64,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 0.9x.
How educated is Willow City, North Dakota?
18.8% of adults (25+) in Willow City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.