Benson County, North Dakota Income Statistics
Benson County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Benson County Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy counties in North Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Benson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,290 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,465 | $59,016 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 3.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.2% | 12.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.5% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Benson County is about 16% lower than in North Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Benson County (5.6%/yr) than in North Dakota (3.3%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Benson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Dakota average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Benson County, North Dakota grew by 110.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,290 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Benson County
| Metric | Benson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.600 | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,661 | $67,903 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,436 | $53,536 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.9% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Benson County, it is 0.600, higher than North Dakota's 0.506, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 22% more than women's income in Benson County, North Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $392,875 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benson County, North Dakota has widened from about 17% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2014, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,488 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Benson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.7% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 13 | 22 |
Approximately 74 people are unemployed in Benson County, North Dakota.
The average commute time in Benson County is 13 minutes, about the same as in North Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Benson County, North Dakota has fallen from 9.5% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.9% in 2023.
Benson County, ND Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Benson County, ND is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,808 residents against a local median of 3,890. Benson County, ND's unemployment, at 3.4%, runs 183% above the 1.2% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.6%/yr against a local median of 2.8%/yr, 96% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Benson County, ND is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 1.5% on unemployment, so Benson County, ND sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Benson County, ND has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson County, ND | 5,808 | $64,290 #3/6 | 5.6%/yr #1/6 | 3.4% #6/6 | 0.600 #6/6 |
| Wells County, ND | 3,890 | $65,240 | 3.2%/yr | 2.0% | 0.485 |
| Eddy County, ND | 2,307 | $50,825 | -0.5%/yr | 2.5% | 0.510 |
| Towner County, ND | 2,079 | $67,439 | 2.8%/yr | 1.0% | 0.494 |
| Pierce County, ND | 3,928 | $58,993 | 4.3%/yr | 1.1% | 0.491 |
| Ramsey County, ND | 11,556 | $62,525 | 2.8%/yr | 1.2% | 0.496 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Benson County, North Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than North Dakota, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Benson County, North Dakota.
How Rich Is Benson County, North Dakota?
Benson County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $64,290, about 16% lower than the North Dakota average of $76,862.
How has median household income changed in Benson County, North Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Benson County, North Dakota rose 110%, from $30,611 to $64,290. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Dakota as a whole: +110% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Benson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Benson County, North Dakota was $67,024, up 8% from $61,858 in 2022. The North Dakota median that year was $76,063.
What was the median household income in Benson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Benson County, North Dakota was $50,373. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $64,290.
What is the Gini coefficient in Benson County, North Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Benson County is 0.600. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Benson County, North Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benson County, North Dakota has widened from about 17% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2014, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,488 since 2009.
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