Best counties to live in North Dakota

Written by:
April 8, 2024
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Best counties to live in North Dakota

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in North Dakota using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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Tanyarmorgan2436 // Shutterstock

#24. McKenzie County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 14,081
- Median household income: $83,813
- Median home value: $330,200 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,192 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: East Fairview Elementary School (grade A), Badlands Elementary School (grade C+), Fox Hills Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Johnson Corners Christian Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Yellowstone Township (grade B minus), Watford City (grade B minus), Mandaree (grade C)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#23. Rolette County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 12,292
- Median household income: $53,806
- Median home value: $90,200 (66% own)
- Median rent: $482 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Mt. Pleasant High School (grade B), Rolette Elementary School (grade B), Rolette High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Ann's Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Rolette (grade A minus), Rolla (grade B), St. John (grade C+)

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Dirk Wierenga // Shutterstock

#22. McHenry County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 5,326
- Median household income: $78,071
- Median home value: $136,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $753 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Velva High School (grade B), Anamoose Elementary School (grade B), Velva Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Towner (grade B), Velva (grade B), Deering (grade B minus)

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Danita Delimont // Shutterstock

#21. Ransom County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 5,663
- Median household income: $71,462
- Median home value: $145,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $840 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Lisbon Elementary School (grade B), Lisbon Middle School (grade B), Lisbon High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Aliceton Township (grade B), Lisbon (grade B), Enderlin (grade B minus)

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#20. Mercer County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 8,366
- Median household income: $82,155
- Median home value: $192,000 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,039 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Hazen High School (grade B), Hazen Elementary School (grade B), Hazen Middle-High School (grade C)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Beulah (grade B minus), Hazen (grade A minus), Stanton (grade B minus)

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Smpalmero // Shutterstock

#19. McLean County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 9,781
- Median household income: $80,556
- Median home value: $222,100 (83% own)
- Median rent: $766 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Wilton Elementary School (grade A minus), Bob Callies Elementary School (grade B+), Washburn Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Washburn (grade B), Garrison (grade B), Turtle Lake (grade B)

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Cavan-Images // Shutterstock

#18. Stark County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,389
- Population: 32,989
- Median household income: $78,734
- Median home value: $255,200 (64% own)
- Median rent: $988 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Taylor-Richardton Elementary School (grade B), Lincoln Elementary School (grade B minus), Roosevelt Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Trinity Junior High & High School (grade A), Hope Christian Academy (grade B minus), Trinity Elementary School West (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Dickinson (grade B), Taylor (grade A minus), South Heart (grade B)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#17. Stutsman County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,264
- Population: 21,609
- Median household income: $59,167
- Median home value: $191,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $746 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: William S. Gussner Elementary School (grade A minus), Pingree-Buchanan Elementary School (grade B+), Louis L'Amour Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. John's Academy (grade unavailable), Anne Carlsen Center (grade unavailable), Hillcrest Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Jamestown (grade B), Spiritwood Lake (grade B+), Bloom Township (grade B)

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#16. Walsh County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,235
- Population: 10,553
- Median household income: $68,082
- Median home value: $111,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $695 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Valley-Edinburg Elementary School - Hoople (grade A), Central Valley Elementary School (grade A minus), Central Valley High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Grafton (grade B+), Edinburg (grade A minus), Glenwood Township (grade B+)

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#15. Morton County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,116
- Population: 33,192
- Median household income: $79,555
- Median home value: $247,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $973 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Hebron Elementary School (grade B+), Red Trail Elementary School (grade B), Glen Ullin High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable), Christ the King Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mandan (grade B), Hebron (grade B+), Flasher (grade B)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#14. Benson County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,092
- Population: 5,960
- Median household income: $63,220
- Median home value: $79,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $563 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Leeds Elementary School (grade B+), Maddock Elementary School (grade B), Maddock High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Leeds (grade B+), Maddock (grade B minus), Minnewaukan (grade B minus)

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Michael Coddington // Shutterstock

#13. Ramsey County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,080
- Population: 11,613
- Median household income: $61,490
- Median home value: $193,300 (62% own)
- Median rent: $663 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Sweetwater Elementary School (grade B+), Minnie H. Kindergarten Center (grade B minus), Central Middle School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Devils Lake (grade B minus), Edmore (grade B+), North Creel Township (grade B+)

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#12. Williams County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,045
- Population: 39,076
- Median household income: $86,139
- Median home value: $255,000 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,097 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Grenora Elementary School (grade B), Tioga High School (grade B minus), Ray Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Williston Trinity Christian School (grade C+), St. Josephs Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Williston (grade B), Williston Township (grade A), Grenora (grade B+)

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Yosoyana // Shutterstock

#11. Ward County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 997
- Population: 69,532
- Median household income: $78,143
- Median home value: $249,800 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,005 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Sawyer Elementary School (grade A+), Memorial Middle School (grade A minus), North Plains Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Bishop Ryan Catholic School (grade B+), Our Redeemer's Christian School (grade B minus), Dakota Memorial High School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Minot (grade B), Berthold (grade B+), Sawyer (grade B+)

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#10. Mountrail County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 877
- Population: 9,648
- Median household income: $81,886
- Median home value: $205,000 (61% own)
- Median rent: $929 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: North Shore Plaza Elementary School (grade B), North Shore Plaza High School (grade B), Stanley High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Osborn Township (grade B+), Plaza (grade B), New Town (grade B)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#9. Bottineau County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 807
- Population: 6,411
- Median household income: $80,113
- Median home value: $188,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $670 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Bottineau Junior/Senior High School (grade B minus), Bottineau Elementary School (grade B minus), Westhope High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Westhope (grade B+), Bottineau (grade B+), Whitteron Township (grade B)

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#8. Barnes County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 759
- Population: 10,826
- Median household income: $64,447
- Median home value: $157,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $773 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Barnes County North Elementary School (grade A minus), Jefferson Elementary School (grade B+), Valley City Junior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Catherine Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Valley City (grade B+), Marsh Township (grade A minus), Wimbledon (grade B minus)

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#7. Richland County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 750
- Population: 16,548
- Median household income: $67,089
- Median home value: $164,500 (69% own)
- Median rent: $725 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Wyndmere Elementary School (grade B+), Wahpeton Middle School (grade B+), Hankinson Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. John's School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Wahpeton (grade B), Colfax (grade A minus), Walcott (grade B+)

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Bob Pool // Shutterstock

#6. Pembina County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 716
- Population: 6,853
- Median household income: $64,243
- Median home value: $112,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $658 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Valley-Edinburg Elementary School - Crystal (grade A), North Border Walhalla Elementary School (grade A), North Border Pembina Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Pembina (grade B+), Neche (grade B+), Cavalier (grade B+)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#5. Dickey County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 656
- Population: 5,003
- Median household income: $60,250
- Median home value: $164,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $759 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Ellendale Elementary School (grade A minus), Oakes Elementary School (grade B), Oakes High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Oakes (grade B+), Ellendale Township (grade B+), Ellendale (grade B+)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#4. Grand Forks County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 426
- Population: 72,927
- Median household income: $64,698
- Median home value: $235,400 (51% own)
- Median rent: $941 (49% rent)
- Top public schools: Manvel Elementary School (grade A), Nathan Twining Elementary School (grade A), Nathan Twining Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Michael's School (grade unavailable), Holy Family School (grade unavailable), Forest River School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Grand Forks (grade A minus), Northwood (grade A minus), Michigan Township (grade A minus)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#3. Traill County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 375
- Population: 8,004
- Median household income: $81,157
- Median home value: $172,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $709 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Peter Boe Jr. Elementary School (grade B+), Hillsboro High School (grade B), Hillsboro Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Hillsboro (grade A), Mayville (grade B+), Buxton (grade B+)

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#2. Burleigh County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 286
- Population: 98,443
- Median household income: $82,141
- Median home value: $302,300 (71% own)
- Median rent: $975 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Apple Creek Elementary School (grade A), Century High School (grade A minus), Roosevelt Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Dakota Adventist Academy (grade A minus), St. Mary's Central High School (grade B+), Shiloh Christian School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Bismarck (grade A minus), Lincoln (grade B), Painted Woods Township (grade A)

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#1. Cass County, North Dakota

- Overall Rank: 162
- Population: 186,328
- Median household income: $73,249
- Median home value: $270,300 (52% own)
- Median rent: $909 (48% rent)
- Top public schools: Longfellow Elementary School (grade A), Kindred Elementary School (grade A minus), Bennett Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Oak Grove Lutheran School (grade A), Shanley High School & Sullivan Middle School (grade B+), Trinity Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Longfellow (grade A), Clara Barton (grade A), Southpointe (grade A)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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