Foster County, North Dakota Income Statistics
Foster 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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B
Foster County Around averageWealthier than 73% of counties in North Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Foster County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $87,021 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,487 | $59,016 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.7% | 3.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.7% | 12.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.7% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Foster County is about 13% higher than in North Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Foster County (5.7%/yr) than in North Dakota (3.3%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Foster County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Dakota average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Foster County, North Dakota grew by 112.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $87,021 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Foster County
| Metric | Foster County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.481 | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,773 | $67,903 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,003 | $53,536 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 26.5% | 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 Foster County, it is 0.481, lower than North Dakota's 0.506, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 36% more than women's income in Foster County, North Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 36% wage gap accumulates to roughly $656,950 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Foster County, North Dakota has widened from about 24% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2013, and was narrowest at 11% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $9,464 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Foster County widened by 2.5 points while North Dakota's narrowed by 7.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Foster County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.7% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 7 | 13 | 22 |
Approximately 18 people are unemployed in Foster County, North Dakota.
The average commute time in Foster County is 7 minutes, shorter than the 13 minutes in North Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Foster County, North Dakota has fallen from 1.1% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 1.3% in 2015 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2014.
Foster County, ND Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Foster County, ND is typical in size for this group, 3,358 residents against a local median of 3,890, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Foster County, ND breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 102% above the local median of 2.8%/yr at 5.7%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 1.0% against a local median of 2.5%, 61% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Foster County, ND is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 6.1%/yr on income growth, so Foster County, ND sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Foster County, ND has the highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foster County, ND | 3,358 | $87,021 #1/6 | 5.7%/yr #1/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.481 #1/6 |
| Eddy County, ND | 2,307 | $50,825 | -0.5%/yr | 2.5% | 0.510 |
| Stutsman County, ND | 21,549 | $63,394 | 2.2%/yr | 4.0% | 0.532 |
| Griggs County, ND | 2,245 | $62,216 | 2.8%/yr | 1.4% | 0.501 |
| Benson County, ND | 5,808 | $64,290 | 5.6%/yr | 3.4% | 0.600 |
| Wells County, ND | 3,890 | $65,240 | 3.2%/yr | 2.0% | 0.485 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Foster County, North Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Foster County, North Dakota.
How Rich Is Foster County, North Dakota?
Foster County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $87,021, about 13% higher than the North Dakota average of $76,862.
How has median household income changed in Foster County, North Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Foster County, North Dakota rose 112%, from $40,958 to $87,021. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Dakota as a whole: +112% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Foster County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Foster County, North Dakota was $81,350, up 6% from $76,412 in 2022. The North Dakota median that year was $76,063.
What was the median household income in Foster County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Foster County, North Dakota was $61,302. By 2024 it had risen 42% to $87,021.
Is unemployment high in Foster County, North Dakota?
Unemployment in Foster County, North Dakota is only 1.0%, well below the North Dakota rate of 2.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Foster County, North Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Foster County is 0.481. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Foster County, North Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Foster County, North Dakota has widened from about 24% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2013, and was narrowest at 11% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $9,464 since 2009.
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