Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in North Dakota using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
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#50. Burke County
- Median household income: $79,405
--- 21.6% above state average, 22.2% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 37.2%
--- #231 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.6%
--- #2,941 highest among all counties nationwide
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#49. Steele County
- Median household income: $77,167
--- 18.1% above state average, 18.7% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 38.0%
--- #217 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.4%
--- #2,920 highest among all counties nationwide
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#48. McKenzie County
- Median household income: $75,238
--- 15.2% above state average, 15.8% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 39.1%
--- #185 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.0%
--- #2,885 highest among all counties nationwide
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#47. Burleigh County
- Median household income: $72,974
--- 11.7% above state average, 12.3% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 34.1%
--- #310 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.3%
--- #2,848 highest among all counties nationwide
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#46. Morton County
- Median household income: $72,778
--- 11.4% above state average, 12.0% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 33.5%
--- #336 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.8%
--- #2,845 highest among all counties nationwide
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#45. Golden Valley County
- Median household income: $72,308
--- 10.7% above state average, 11.3% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 31.0%
--- #430 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.0%
--- #2,830 highest among all counties nationwide
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#44. Bowman County
- Median household income: $70,521
--- 8.0% above state average, 8.5% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 28.6%
--- #578 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.1%
--- #2,781 highest among all counties nationwide
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#43. Mountrail County
- Median household income: $70,412
--- 7.8% above state average, 8.3% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 35.2%
--- #276 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.4%
--- #2,776 highest among all counties nationwide
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#42. McLean County
- Median household income: $70,261
--- 7.6% above state average, 8.1% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 29.4%
--- #517 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.5%
--- #2,770 highest among all counties nationwide
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#41. Renville County
- Median household income: $69,848
--- 6.9% above state average, 7.5% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 34.5%
--- #294 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 3.7%
--- #2,758 highest among all counties nationwide
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#40. Stark County
- Median household income: $69,412
--- 6.3% above state average, 6.8% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 34.3%
--- #303 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #2,750 highest among all counties nationwide
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#39. Ward County
- Median household income: $68,098
--- 4.3% above state average, 4.8% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 28.8%
--- #562 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.6%
--- #2,700 highest among all counties nationwide
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#38. Traill County
- Median household income: $67,604
--- 3.5% above state average, 4.0% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 31.1%
--- #426 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.8%
--- #2,681 highest among all counties nationwide
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#37. McHenry County
- Median household income: $67,039
--- 2.6% above state average, 3.1% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 27.4%
--- #668 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #2,653 highest among all counties nationwide
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#36. Oliver County
- Median household income: $66,641
--- 2.0% above state average, 2.5% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 36.8%
--- #240 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.4%
--- #2,641 highest among all counties nationwide
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#35. Cass County
- Median household income: $65,976
--- 1.0% above state average, 1.5% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 29.7%
--- #505 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.6%
--- #2,617 highest among all counties nationwide
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#34. Slope County
- Median household income: $65,833
--- 0.8% above state average, 1.3% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.8%
--- #709 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 5.1%
--- #2,613 highest among all counties nationwide
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#33. Bottineau County
- Median household income: $65,074
--- 0.4% below state average, 0.1% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 32.2%
--- #377 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.7%
--- #2,569 highest among all counties nationwide
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#32. Billings County
- Median household income: $64,896
--- 0.6% below state average, 0.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 36.9%
--- #236 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.5%
--- #2,558 highest among all counties nationwide
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#31. Divide County
- Median household income: $64,650
--- 1.0% below state average, 0.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 30.1%
--- #480 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #2,542 highest among all counties nationwide
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#30. Sargent County
- Median household income: $64,564
--- 1.1% below state average, 0.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.7%
--- #717 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 5.8%
--- #2,538 highest among all counties nationwide
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#29. Dickey County
- Median household income: $64,521
--- 1.2% below state average, 0.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 28.3%
--- #595 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.8%
--- #2,534 highest among all counties nationwide
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#28. Ransom County
- Median household income: $62,235
--- 4.7% below state average, 4.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.4%
--- #837 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.2%
--- #2,410 highest among all counties nationwide
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#27. LaMoure County
- Median household income: $61,477
--- 5.9% below state average, 5.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.4%
--- #840 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #2,354 highest among all counties nationwide
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#26. Foster County
- Median household income: $61,250
--- 6.2% below state average, 5.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 30.8%
--- #441 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #2,338 highest among all counties nationwide
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#25. Pembina County
- Median household income: $60,910
--- 6.7% below state average, 6.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.4%
--- #744 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.4%
--- #2,315 highest among all counties nationwide
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#24. Richland County
- Median household income: $60,833
--- 6.9% below state average, 6.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.2%
--- #968 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.3%
--- #2,311 highest among all counties nationwide
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#23. Logan County
- Median household income: $60,592
--- 7.2% below state average, 6.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.7%
--- #1,492 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #2,299 highest among all counties nationwide
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#22. Barnes County
- Median household income: $60,472
--- 7.4% below state average, 7.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.8%
--- #905 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.2%
--- #2,285 highest among all counties nationwide
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#21. Hettinger County
- Median household income: $59,750
--- 8.5% below state average, 8.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.3%
--- #959 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.8%
--- #2,230 highest among all counties nationwide
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#20. Pierce County
- Median household income: $57,398
--- 12.1% below state average, 11.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.9%
--- #1,150 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.2%
--- #2,035 highest among all counties nationwide
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#19. Wells County
- Median household income: $56,519
--- 13.5% below state average, 13.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.3%
--- #1,391 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.1%
--- #1,937 highest among all counties nationwide
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#18. Walsh County
- Median household income: $55,428
--- 15.1% below state average, 14.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.5%
--- #1,196 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.1%
--- #1,845 highest among all counties nationwide
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#17. Cavalier County
- Median household income: $54,955
--- 15.9% below state average, 15.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.4%
--- #744 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.4%
--- #1,795 highest among all counties nationwide
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#16. Sheridan County
- Median household income: $54,250
--- 16.9% below state average, 16.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.6%
--- #1,855 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,723 highest among all counties nationwide
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#15. Griggs County
- Median household income: $53,917
--- 17.5% below state average, 17.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 23.6%
--- #1,039 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.3%
--- #1,688 highest among all counties nationwide
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#14. Grant County
- Median household income: $53,750
--- 17.7% below state average, 17.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.7%
--- #1,488 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #1,664 highest among all counties nationwide
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#13. Grand Forks County
- Median household income: $53,721
--- 17.8% below state average, 17.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.0%
--- #990 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.0%
--- #1,659 highest among all counties nationwide
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#12. Nelson County
- Median household income: $53,063
--- 18.8% below state average, 18.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.0%
--- #1,784 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.8%
--- #1,598 highest among all counties nationwide
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#11. Eddy County
- Median household income: $52,895
--- 19.0% below state average, 18.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.4%
--- #1,721 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #1,577 highest among all counties nationwide
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#10. Stutsman County
- Median household income: $52,815
--- 19.1% below state average, 18.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.4%
--- #1,712 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.7%
--- #1,568 highest among all counties nationwide
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#9. Ramsey County
- Median household income: $52,688
--- 19.3% below state average, 18.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.5%
--- #1,196 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.7%
--- #1,558 highest among all counties nationwide
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#8. Kidder County
- Median household income: $52,063
--- 20.3% below state average, 19.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.1%
--- #1,436 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.9%
--- #1,477 highest among all counties nationwide
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#7. McIntosh County
- Median household income: $51,136
--- 21.7% below state average, 21.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.1%
--- #2,306 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.3%
--- #1,333 highest among all counties nationwide
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#6. Emmons County
- Median household income: $51,012
--- 21.9% below state average, 21.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.0%
--- #1,607 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.4%
--- #1,318 highest among all counties nationwide
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#5. Benson County
- Median household income: $50,329
--- 22.9% below state average, 22.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.5%
--- #1,690 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.7%
--- #1,251 highest among all counties nationwide
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#4. Towner County
- Median household income: $49,464
--- 24.3% below state average, 23.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.7%
--- #1,324 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,152 highest among all counties nationwide
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#3. Adams County
- Median household income: $48,750
--- 25.4% below state average, 25.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.1%
--- #772 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.6%
--- #1,074 highest among all counties nationwide
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#2. Rolette County
- Median household income: $46,481
--- 28.8% below state average, 28.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.8%
--- #1,637 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.9%
--- #862 highest among all counties nationwide
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#1. Sioux County
- Median household income: $41,893
--- 35.9% below state average, 35.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.0%
--- #1,784 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.9%
--- #481 highest among all counties nationwide
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