North Dakota · GEOID 38099

Walsh County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 10,396 · 5,184 housing units

Median household income

$71,944

State $76,631

Median home value

$132,700

State $248,199

Median gross rent

$748

State $948

Homeownership rate

76.0%

State 62.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

35.2%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

15.7%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.9%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

15.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

1.84

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Walsh County	North Dakota
Population	10,396	784,841
Population density (per sq. mi.)	8.11	—
Median household income	$71,944	$76,631
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$91,600	—
Households	4,400	—
Average household size	2.28 people	—
Owner-occupied	76.0%	62.9%
Renter-occupied	24.0%	37.1%
Race	83.3% White · 0.8% 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

Walsh County compared with North Dakota.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

19.2% 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	13.2%	$41,563	$1,039	$123,692
1 earner	32.7%	$62,708	$1,568	$202,401
2 earners	47.7%	$118,250	$2,956	$409,147
3+ earners	6.4%	$135,833	$3,396	$474,597

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

4,400

Average size: 2.28 people

Households with children

1,053

23.9% of households

Per-capita income

$36,909

Poverty rate: 11.8%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

76.0% owner-occupied vs. state average 62.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 77.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 12.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

74.5% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,971.00 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: $132,700.

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: $748.

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 784 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 6.9% · For rent 9.1% · Seasonal 13.4% · Other 40.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

34.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 65.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

2.0%

105 units of 5,184 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

6.2%

319 units of 5,184 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

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$57,555

100% MHI$71,944

120% MHI$86,333

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Walsh 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	$60,000	$68,600	$85,700
100% AMI	$64,120	$73,280	$91,600
120% AMI	$76,950	$87,950	$109,900

HUD FMR Area: Walsh County, ND. 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

35.2% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (22.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

15.7% 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 Walsh County.

Covered employment

3,184

Across 17 sectors

Establishments

426

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$57,202

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 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	681	$70,729	$232,258	+$99,558	$1,768
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	416	$46,924	$143,648	+$10,948	$1,173
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	393	$29,439	$78,562	−$54,138	$736
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	337	$56,592	$179,635	+$46,935	$1,415
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	331	$86,183	$289,783	+$157,083	$2,155
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	218	$48,391	$149,108	+$16,408	$1,210
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	173	$83,962	$281,516	+$148,816	$2,099
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	153	$61,921	$199,471	+$66,771	$1,548
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	106	$66,998	$218,370	+$85,670	$1,675
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	106	$14,950	$24,629	−$108,071	$374
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	98	$64,594	$209,421	+$76,721	$1,615
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	57	$35,331	$100,494	−$32,206	$883
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	55	$16,681	$31,073	−$101,627	$417
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	27	$61,039	$196,188	+$63,488	$1,526
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	19	$38,318	$111,613	−$21,087	$958
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	13	$26,440	$67,399	−$65,301	$661
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1	$61,392	$197,502	+$64,802	$1,535

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	600	$50,854	$158,276	+$25,576	$1,271
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	493	$57,646	$183,558	+$50,858	$1,441
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	416	$46,924	$143,648	+$10,948	$1,173
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	143	$46,577	$142,356	+$9,656	$1,164
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	139	$62,671	$202,263	+$69,563	$1,567
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	135	$32,938	$91,587	−$41,113	$823
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	122	$21,849	$50,310	−$82,390	$546
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	112	$64,545	$209,239	+$76,539	$1,614
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	104	$80,618	$269,068	+$136,368	$2,015
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	100	$23,223	$55,424	−$77,276	$581
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	98	$64,594	$209,421	+$76,721	$1,615
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	94	$58,754	$187,683	+$54,983	$1,469
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	93	$60,629	$194,662	+$61,962	$1,516
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	55	$16,681	$31,073	−$101,627	$417
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	48	$49,838	$154,494	+$21,794	$1,246
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	41	$33,390	$93,269	−$39,431	$835
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	41	$57,924	$184,593	+$51,893	$1,448
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	29	$129,873	$452,412	+$319,712	$3,247
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	28	$49,467	$153,113	+$20,413	$1,237
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	28	$39,635	$116,515	−$16,185	$991
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	27	$61,039	$196,188	+$63,488	$1,526
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	27	$38,644	$112,827	−$19,873	$966
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	20	$27,672	$71,985	−$60,715	$692
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	19	$38,318	$111,613	−$21,087	$958
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	17	$53,419	$167,824	+$35,124	$1,335
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	15	$58,695	$187,463	+$54,763	$1,467
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	15	$19,160	$40,301	−$92,399	$479
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	13	$26,440	$67,399	−$65,301	$661
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	9	$65,606	$213,188	+$80,488	$1,640
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	8	$58,278	$185,911	+$53,211	$1,457
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	5	$17,445	$33,917	−$98,783	$436
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	1	$60,351	$193,627	+$60,927	$1,509

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
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	660	—	—	$14.89	$30,970	$84,261	$774
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023	1,390	—	—	$15.15	$31,510	$86,271	$788
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	2,010	—	—	$15.29	$31,790	$87,314	$795
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	610	—	—	$15.85	$32,970	$91,706	$824
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,060	—	—	$19.51	$40,580	$120,033	$1,015
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,120	—	—	$19.67	$40,910	$121,261	$1,023
Tellers SOC 43-3071	410	—	—	$19.72	$41,020	$121,671	$1,026
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131	1,340	—	—	$21.95	$45,650	$138,905	$1,141
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,300	—	—	$24.05	$50,020	$155,172	$1,251
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	570	—	—	$24.87	$51,730	$161,537	$1,293
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	600	—	—	$25.58	$53,210	$167,046	$1,330
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	50	—	—	$27.06	$56,270	$178,437	$1,407
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	950	—	—	—	$56,560	$179,516	$1,414
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	300	—	—	$28.60	$59,500	$190,460	$1,488
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,570	—	—	$28.79	$59,880	$191,874	$1,497
Paramedics SOC 29-2043	50	—	—	$29.96	$62,310	$200,919	$1,558
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	230	—	—	$30.53	$63,490	$205,312	$1,587
Electricians SOC 47-2111	490	—	—	$31.99	$66,540	$216,665	$1,664
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	270	—	—	$32.31	$67,200	$219,122	$1,680
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,300	—	—	$41.40	$86,100	$289,474	$2,153

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: 38099 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.