North Dakota · GEOID 38101

Ward County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 68,973 · 32,487 housing units

Median household income

$78,238

State $76,631

Median home value

$267,100

State $248,199

Median gross rent

$1,048

State $948

Homeownership rate

60.8%

State 62.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

38.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

16.8%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

3.2%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.8%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

12.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.41

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Ward County	North Dakota
Population	68,973	784,841
Population density (per sq. mi.)	34.26	—
Median household income	$78,238	$76,631
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$95,700	—
Households	28,568	—
Average household size	2.35 people	—
Owner-occupied	60.8%	62.9%
Renter-occupied	39.2%	37.1%
Race	81.3% White · 4.7% 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

Ward County compared with North Dakota.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

29.6% 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	10.7%	$51,417	$1,285	$160,372
1 earner	28.5%	$80,732	$2,018	$269,492
2 earners	49.7%	$113,207	$2,830	$390,375
3+ earners	11.0%	$173,672	$4,342	$615,447

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

28,568

Average size: 2.35 people

Households with children

7,991

28.0% of households

Per-capita income

$43,089

Poverty rate: 8.6%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

60.8% owner-occupied vs. state average 62.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 62.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 15.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

44.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,984.00 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: $267,100.

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: $1,048.

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 3,919 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 14.6% · For rent 17.9% · Seasonal 14.9% · Other 43.5%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

41.6% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 58.4% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.8%

585 units of 32,487 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

5.2%

1,705 units of 32,487 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$62,590

100% MHI$78,238

120% MHI$93,886

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Ward 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	$66,990	$76,560	$95,700
120% AMI	$80,400	$91,850	$114,850

HUD FMR Area: Ward County, ND HUD Metro FMR Area. 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

38.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (17.5% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

16.8% 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 Ward County.

Covered employment

31,359

Across 20 sectors

Establishments

2,722

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$60,489

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 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	5,199	$69,154	$226,395	−$40,705	$1,729
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	4,785	$38,112	$110,846	−$156,254	$953
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	3,404	$23,173	$55,238	−$211,862	$579
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	2,933	$48,576	$149,797	−$117,303	$1,214
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	2,096	$70,225	$230,382	−$36,718	$1,756
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	1,689	$74,252	$245,372	−$21,728	$1,856
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	1,681	$85,349	$286,678	+$19,578	$2,134
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	1,513	$135,017	$471,560	+$204,460	$3,375
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	1,286	$68,143	$222,632	−$44,468	$1,704
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,084	$54,191	$170,698	−$96,402	$1,355
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1,081	$47,650	$146,350	−$120,750	$1,191
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	1,053	$85,053	$285,577	+$18,477	$2,126
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	986	$86,061	$289,329	+$22,229	$2,152
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	831	$21,684	$49,696	−$217,404	$542
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	463	$54,384	$171,416	−$95,684	$1,360
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	424	$59,809	$191,610	−$75,490	$1,495
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	389	$70,027	$229,645	−$37,455	$1,751
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	178	$64,977	$210,847	−$56,253	$1,624
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	143	$131,539	$458,613	+$191,513	$3,288
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	141	$104,901	$359,458	+$92,358	$2,623

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	2,933	$48,576	$149,797	−$117,303	$1,214
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	2,915	$23,143	$55,127	−$211,973	$579
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	1,622	$38,811	$113,448	−$153,652	$970
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,320	$66,173	$215,299	−$51,801	$1,654
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	1,164	$70,073	$229,816	−$37,284	$1,752
NAICS 213 Support activities for mining NAICS 213	1,154	$116,722	$403,459	+$136,359	$2,918
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,057	$28,431	$74,810	−$192,290	$711
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	986	$86,061	$289,329	+$22,229	$2,152
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	975	$45,576	$138,630	−$128,470	$1,139
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	973	$91,548	$309,753	+$42,653	$2,289
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	812	$65,083	$211,242	−$55,858	$1,627
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	775	$21,438	$48,780	−$218,320	$536
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	733	$71,871	$236,509	−$30,591	$1,797
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	694	$76,967	$255,478	−$11,622	$1,924
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	654	$87,915	$296,230	+$29,130	$2,198
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	630	$63,938	$206,979	−$60,121	$1,598
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	597	$82,222	$275,039	+$7,939	$2,056
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	595	$29,763	$79,768	−$187,332	$744
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	592	$27,949	$73,016	−$194,084	$699
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	570	$40,129	$118,354	−$148,746	$1,003
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	513	$72,462	$238,709	−$28,391	$1,812
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	489	$23,350	$55,897	−$211,203	$584
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	456	$88,871	$299,789	+$32,689	$2,222
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	435	$30,416	$82,199	−$184,901	$760
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	347	$78,083	$259,632	−$7,468	$1,952
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	326	$49,366	$152,737	−$114,363	$1,234
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	319	$60,555	$194,387	−$72,713	$1,514
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	312	$56,118	$177,871	−$89,229	$1,403
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	287	$21,417	$48,702	−$218,398	$535
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	275	$35,807	$102,266	−$164,834	$895
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	259	$55,107	$174,107	−$92,993	$1,378
NAICS 211 Oil and gas extraction NAICS 211	246	$233,551	$838,337	+$571,237	$5,839
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	241	$69,275	$226,846	−$40,254	$1,732
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	190	$37,028	$106,811	−$160,289	$926
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	143	$131,539	$458,613	+$191,513	$3,288
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	141	$104,901	$359,458	+$92,358	$2,623
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	125	$47,166	$144,548	−$122,552	$1,179
NAICS 212 Mining (except oil and gas) NAICS 212	114	$106,405	$365,056	+$97,956	$2,660
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	108	$33,420	$93,381	−$173,719	$836
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	106	$66,766	$217,506	−$49,594	$1,669
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	106	$66,723	$217,346	−$49,754	$1,668
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	102	$75,080	$248,454	−$18,646	$1,877
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	93	$84,362	$283,004	+$15,904	$2,109
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	70	$51,614	$161,105	−$105,995	$1,290
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	54	$58,753	$187,679	−$79,421	$1,469
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	49	$45,863	$139,698	−$127,402	$1,147
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	42	$12,735	$16,384	−$250,716	$318
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	39	$60,784	$195,239	−$71,861	$1,520
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	38	$32,481	$89,886	−$177,214	$812
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	34	$76,147	$252,425	−$14,675	$1,904
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	28	$60,474	$194,085	−$73,015	$1,512
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	21	$71,973	$236,888	−$30,212	$1,799
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	21	$60,997	$196,032	−$71,068	$1,525
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	18	$48,016	$147,712	−$119,388	$1,200
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	18	$64,770	$210,076	−$57,024	$1,619
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	17	$79,789	$265,982	−$1,118	$1,995
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	14	$70,089	$229,876	−$37,224	$1,752
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	8	$33,725	$94,516	−$172,584	$843
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	8	$17,000	$32,260	−$234,840	$425
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	6	$59,138	$189,112	−$77,988	$1,478

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	1,400	—	—	$14.94	$31,080	$84,671	$777
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	850	—	—	$15.62	$32,480	$89,882	$812
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	260	—	—	$15.93	$33,140	$92,339	$829
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	440	—	—	$17.46	$36,310	$104,139	$908
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,420	—	—	$17.69	$36,800	$105,963	$920
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131	430	—	—	$18.90	$39,310	$115,306	$983
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	480	—	—	$19.84	$41,260	$122,564	$1,032
Tellers SOC 43-3071	150	—	—	$20.15	$41,910	$124,984	$1,048
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	660	—	—	$25.26	$52,530	$164,515	$1,313
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	340	—	—	$25.35	$52,720	$165,222	$1,318
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	280	—	—	$25.81	$53,690	$168,833	$1,342
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	80	—	—	$26.56	$55,240	$174,603	$1,381
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	160	—	—	$27.40	$56,990	$181,117	$1,425
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	400	—	—	—	$64,020	$207,285	$1,601
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	880	—	—	$31.10	$64,690	$209,779	$1,617
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	150	—	—	$31.37	$65,250	$211,863	$1,631
Electricians SOC 47-2111	340	—	—	$32.30	$67,180	$219,047	$1,680
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	120	—	—	$32.72	$68,060	$222,323	$1,702
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	620	—	—	$38.22	$79,490	$264,869	$1,987

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: 38101 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.