You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in North Dakota.
The median household income in Williams County, the richest county in North Dakota is $86,139, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 53 counties in the Peace Garden State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In North Dakota For 2024
What is the richest county in North Dakota? The richest county in North Dakota is Williams County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Eddy County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in North Dakota. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in North Dakota and the cheapest places to live in North Dakota.
The Richest Counties In North Dakota For 2024
1. Williams County
Biggest Place: Williston
Population: 39,076
Median Income: $86,139 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $301,985 (2nd highest)
More on Williams County: Data
2. Burleigh County
Biggest Place: Bismarck
Population: 98,443
Median Income: $82,141 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $334,884 (highest)
More on Burleigh County: Data
3. Mckenzie County
Biggest Place: Watford City
Population: 14,081
Median Income: $83,813 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $301,103 (3rd highest)
More on Mckenzie County: Data
4. Dunn County
Biggest Place: Killdeer
Population: 4,049
Median Income: $91,758 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $244,210 (9th highest)
More on Dunn County: Data
5. Morton County
Biggest Place: Mandan
Population: 33,192
Median Income: $79,555 (15th highest)
Median Home Price: $286,516 (5th highest)
More on Morton County: Data
6. Divide County
Biggest Place: Crosby
Population: 2,195
Median Income: $95,938 (highest)
Median Home Price: $175,881 (20th highest)
More on Divide County: Data
7. Mountrail County
Biggest Place: New Town
Population: 9,648
Median Income: $81,886 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $198,290 (12th highest)
More on Mountrail County: Data
8. Stark County
Biggest Place: Dickinson
Population: 32,989
Median Income: $78,734 (16th highest)
Median Home Price: $269,194 (6th highest)
More on Stark County: Data
9. Mercer County
Biggest Place: Beulah
Population: 8,366
Median Income: $82,155 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $193,490 (15th highest)
More on Mercer County: Data
10. Cass County
Biggest Place: Fargo
Population: 186,328
Median Income: $73,249 (23rd highest)
Median Home Price: $300,997 (4th highest)
More on Cass County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which North Dakota county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in North Dakota, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in North Dakota for each of the criteria from one to 53, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In North Dakota.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Peace Garden State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in North Dakota. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In North Dakota For 2024
Living in North Dakota can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in North Dakota are Williams County, Burleigh County, McKenzie County, Dunn County, Morton County, Divide County, Mountrail County, Stark County, Mercer County, and Cass County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in North Dakota according to the data:
- Eddy County
- Grant County
- Rolette County
For more North Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Counties To Live In North Dakota
- Safest Places In North Dakota
- Best Places To Live In North Dakota
- Richest Cities In North Dakota
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In North Dakota
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williams County | 39,076 | $86,139 | $301,985 |
| 2 | Burleigh County | 98,443 | $82,141 | $334,884 |
| 3 | Mckenzie County | 14,081 | $83,813 | $301,103 |
| 4 | Dunn County | 4,049 | $91,758 | $244,210 |
| 5 | Morton County | 33,192 | $79,555 | $286,516 |
| 6 | Divide County | 2,195 | $95,938 | $175,881 |
| 7 | Mountrail County | 9,648 | $81,886 | $198,290 |
| 8 | Stark County | 32,989 | $78,734 | $269,194 |
| 9 | Mercer County | 8,366 | $82,155 | $193,490 |
| 10 | Cass County | 186,328 | $73,249 | $300,997 |
| 11 | Traill County | 8,004 | $81,157 | $183,694 |
| 12 | Ward County | 69,532 | $78,143 | $243,070 |
| 13 | Billings County | 839 | $74,000 | $256,426 |
| 14 | Mclean County | 9,781 | $80,556 | $183,357 |
| 15 | Bottineau County | 6,411 | $80,113 | $181,102 |
| 16 | Golden Valley County | 1,734 | $84,750 | $137,341 |
| 17 | Bowman County | 2,975 | $79,709 | $166,896 |
| 18 | Steele County | 1,774 | $85,750 | $129,454 |
| 19 | Oliver County | 1,832 | $69,722 | $196,515 |
| 20 | Grand Forks County | 72,927 | $64,698 | $247,098 |
| 21 | Foster County | 3,388 | $78,426 | $151,806 |
| 22 | Burke County | 2,184 | $94,583 | $103,207 |
| 23 | Richland County | 16,548 | $67,089 | $192,413 |
| 24 | Renville County | 2,282 | $77,067 | $141,552 |
| 25 | Ransom County | 5,663 | $71,462 | $156,475 |
| 26 | Ramsey County | 11,613 | $61,490 | $200,052 |
| 27 | Sargent County | 3,828 | $75,648 | $119,526 |
| 28 | Mchenry County | 5,326 | $78,071 | $117,509 |
| 29 | Lamoure County | 4,135 | $70,227 | $126,215 |
| 30 | Barnes County | 10,826 | $64,447 | $155,974 |
| 31 | Slope County | 837 | $70,625 | $118,657 |
| 32 | Stutsman County | 21,609 | $59,167 | $196,343 |
| 33 | Walsh County | 10,553 | $68,082 | $120,667 |
| 34 | Pierce County | 3,999 | $59,583 | $166,703 |
| 35 | Cavalier County | 3,691 | $61,174 | $139,118 |
| 36 | Kidder County | 2,391 | $57,240 | $157,504 |
| 37 | Dickey County | 5,003 | $60,250 | $129,639 |
| 38 | Pembina County | 6,853 | $64,243 | $108,868 |
| 39 | Benson County | 5,960 | $63,220 | $112,825 |
| 40 | Hettinger County | 2,477 | $66,797 | $96,234 |
| 41 | Emmons County | 3,297 | $63,750 | $103,182 |
| 42 | Sheridan County | 1,338 | $68,684 | $71,761 |
| 43 | Wells County | 3,990 | $59,732 | $113,251 |
| 44 | Griggs County | 2,309 | $66,688 | $86,623 |
| 45 | Nelson County | 3,025 | $62,219 | $98,882 |
| 46 | Mcintosh County | 2,529 | $64,375 | $89,938 |
| 47 | Adams County | 2,190 | $57,950 | $115,967 |
| 48 | Logan County | 1,849 | $59,750 | $101,922 |
| 49 | Towner County | 2,152 | $61,250 | $86,241 |
| 50 | Sioux County | 3,896 | $41,201 | $104,945 |
| 51 | Rolette County | 12,292 | $53,806 | $97,387 |
| 52 | Grant County | 2,320 | $57,069 | $95,876 |
| 53 | Eddy County | 2,345 | $50,375 | $90,590 |