Wishek, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 849, Wishek'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

Wishek is a small community located in North Dakota, within McIntosh County. The total population is 849. It ranks as the 67th most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wishek is 48.6 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 24.5% 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 Wishek is $69,904. This is 9% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 13% 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 0.7%. This is 74% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $100,600. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Wishek is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wishek has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.2%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (8.2% vs 4.7%). The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

23.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 86.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wishek, 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.