North Dakota · GEOID 38059

Morton County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 33,777 · 15,465 housing units

Median household income

$79,382

State $76,631

Median home value

$263,900

State $248,199

Median gross rent

$1,076

State $948

Homeownership rate

74.2%

State 62.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

44.0%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.3%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.4%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.4%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

9.8%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.32

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Morton County	North Dakota
Population	33,777	784,841
Population density (per sq. mi.)	17.54	—
Median household income	$79,382	$76,631
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$113,000	—
Households	13,946	—
Average household size	2.37 people	—
Owner-occupied	74.2%	62.9%
Renter-occupied	25.8%	37.1%
Race	87.1% White · 1.6% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Morton County compared with North Dakota.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

28.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 32.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	12.7%	$56,009	$1,400	$177,465
1 earner	27.0%	$83,371	$2,084	$279,316
2 earners	48.6%	$121,048	$3,026	$419,562
3+ earners	11.7%	$167,528	$4,188	$592,577

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

13,946

Average size: 2.37 people

Households with children

3,936

28.2% of households

Per-capita income

$46,235

Poverty rate: 8.8%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

74.2% owner-occupied vs. state average 62.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 67.6% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 10.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

49.9% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,980.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $263,900.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,076.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 1,519 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 9.3% · For rent 13.6% · Seasonal 24.0% · Other 40.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

34.7% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 65.3% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

2.4%

365 units of 15,465 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.0%

618 units of 15,465 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$63,506

100% MHI$79,382

120% MHI$95,258

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Morton County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$63,300	$72,350	$90,400
100% AMI	$79,100	$90,400	$113,000
120% AMI	$94,900	$108,500	$135,600

HUD FMR Area: Bismarck, ND MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

44.0% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (26.8% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.3% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Morton County.

Covered employment

10,537

Across 18 sectors

Establishments

1,203

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$60,092

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	1,349	$46,565	$142,311	−$121,589	$1,164
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	1,084	$69,501	$227,687	−$36,213	$1,738
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	1,064	$93,173	$315,802	+$51,902	$2,329
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,043	$48,386	$149,090	−$114,810	$1,210
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	1,002	$20,754	$46,234	−$217,666	$519
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	868	$87,691	$295,396	+$31,496	$2,192
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	709	$72,678	$239,513	−$24,387	$1,817
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	669	$58,111	$185,289	−$78,611	$1,453
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	576	$60,277	$193,352	−$70,548	$1,507
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	513	$85,046	$285,551	+$21,651	$2,126
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	483	$15,492	$26,647	−$237,253	$387
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	417	$47,789	$146,867	−$117,033	$1,195
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	309	$67,412	$219,911	−$43,989	$1,685
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	145	$59,080	$188,896	−$75,004	$1,477
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	113	$42,008	$125,349	−$138,551	$1,050
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	72	$92,519	$313,368	+$49,468	$2,313
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	64	$118,861	$411,421	+$147,521	$2,972
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	57	$69,192	$226,537	−$37,363	$1,730

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,043	$48,386	$149,090	−$114,810	$1,210
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	915	$20,058	$43,643	−$220,257	$501
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	906	$44,972	$136,382	−$127,518	$1,124
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	868	$87,691	$295,396	+$31,496	$2,192
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	826	$68,205	$222,863	−$41,037	$1,705
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	529	$65,928	$214,387	−$49,513	$1,648
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	522	$59,071	$188,863	−$75,037	$1,477
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	444	$14,423	$22,668	−$241,232	$361
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	401	$53,427	$167,854	−$96,046	$1,336
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	392	$41,502	$123,465	−$140,435	$1,038
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	391	$83,764	$280,779	+$16,879	$2,094
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	383	$60,574	$194,457	−$69,443	$1,514
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	365	$76,859	$255,076	−$8,824	$1,921
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	245	$30,182	$81,328	−$182,572	$755
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	172	$77,375	$256,996	−$6,904	$1,934
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	164	$54,556	$172,056	−$91,844	$1,364
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	146	$50,945	$158,615	−$105,285	$1,274
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	140	$57,337	$182,408	−$81,492	$1,433
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	124	$26,810	$68,776	−$195,124	$670
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	118	$93,006	$315,180	+$51,280	$2,325
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	109	$62,820	$202,818	−$61,082	$1,571
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	98	$31,702	$86,986	−$176,914	$793
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	96	$73,467	$242,450	−$21,450	$1,837
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	86	$28,402	$74,702	−$189,198	$710
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	76	$78,453	$261,009	−$2,891	$1,961
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	72	$92,519	$313,368	+$49,468	$2,313
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	71	$70,741	$232,302	−$31,598	$1,769
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	64	$118,861	$411,421	+$147,521	$2,972
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	63	$56,208	$178,206	−$85,694	$1,405
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	59	$76,735	$254,614	−$9,286	$1,918
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	54	$71,931	$236,732	−$27,168	$1,798
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	49	$67,937	$221,865	−$42,035	$1,698
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	45	$41,381	$123,015	−$140,885	$1,035
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	43	$35,527	$101,224	−$162,676	$888
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	34	$46,792	$143,156	−$120,744	$1,170
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	32	$70,297	$230,650	−$33,250	$1,757
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	31	$37,274	$107,727	−$156,173	$932
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	31	$67,117	$218,813	−$45,087	$1,678
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	26	$115,130	$397,533	+$133,633	$2,878
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	22	$83,822	$280,994	+$17,094	$2,096
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	21	$26,818	$68,806	−$195,094	$670
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	17	$30,349	$81,950	−$181,950	$759
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	13	$57,878	$184,422	−$79,478	$1,447
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	13	$27,242	$70,384	−$193,516	$681
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	11	$56,438	$179,062	−$84,838	$1,411
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	11	$81,729	$273,204	+$9,304	$2,043
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	10	$43,611	$131,315	−$132,585	$1,090
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	6	$80,840	$269,894	+$5,994	$2,021

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,180	660	43%	$14.96	$31,120	$84,820	$778
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	770	210	38%	$15.33	$31,880	$87,649	$797
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,390	(460)	(25%)	$16.05	$33,380	$93,232	$835
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	950	(360)	(27%)	$17.95	$37,330	$107,935	$933
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,280	(670)	(23%)	$18.91	$39,330	$115,380	$983
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,200	(120)	(9%)	$19.18	$39,880	$117,427	$997
Tellers SOC 43-3071	300	(20)	(6%)	$20.81	$43,290	$130,121	$1,082
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,430	(730)	(34%)	$21.13	$43,950	$132,577	$1,099
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	450	(80)	(15%)	$23.75	$49,410	$152,901	$1,235
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	140	60	75%	$24.23	$50,390	$156,549	$1,260
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,470	(10)	(1%)	$25.11	$52,240	$163,436	$1,306
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	620	(80)	(11%)	$25.75	$53,560	$168,349	$1,339
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	510	(10)	(2%)	$27.22	$56,620	$179,739	$1,416
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	640	(210)	(25%)	—	$64,360	$208,550	$1,609
Electricians SOC 47-2111	480	(70)	(13%)	$32.19	$66,950	$218,191	$1,674
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,070	(200)	(16%)	$32.32	$67,230	$219,233	$1,681
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	270	40	17%	$33.52	$69,730	$228,539	$1,743
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	220	60	38%	$33.67	$70,030	$229,656	$1,751
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,400	370	18%	$39.25	$81,640	$272,872	$2,041

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 38059 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.