Golden Valley County, North Dakota Income Statistics
Golden Valley 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
Golden Valley County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Golden Valley County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,846 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $60,231 | $59,016 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 8.8% | 3.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.6% | 12.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 12.9% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Golden Valley County is about 7% lower than in North Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Golden Valley County (8.8%/yr) than in North Dakota (3.3%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County, North Dakota grew by 146.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,846 in 2024. That's an average of about 8.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Golden Valley County
| Metric | Golden Valley County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.548 | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $80,192 | $67,903 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,274 | $53,536 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 36.1% | 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 Golden Valley County, it is 0.548, higher than North Dakota's 0.506, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 56% more than women's income in Golden Valley County, North Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 56% wage gap accumulates to roughly $1,012,130 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Golden Valley County, North Dakota has narrowed from about 39% to 36% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2021, and was narrowest at 16% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,301 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Golden Valley County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 0.5% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 13 | 22 |
Approximately 28 people are unemployed in Golden Valley County, North Dakota.
The average commute time in Golden Valley County is 13 minutes, about the same as in North Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Golden Valley County, North Dakota has risen from 2.4% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.4% in 2022 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2014.
Golden Valley County, ND Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Golden Valley County, ND is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,653 residents against a local median of 1,193. The measure that sets Golden Valley County, ND apart most is income growth: 8.8%/yr, 79% above the local median of 4.9%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.4% against a local median of 2.1%, 64% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Golden Valley County, ND is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 5.8%/yr on income growth, so Golden Valley County, ND sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Golden Valley 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Valley County, ND | 1,653 | $71,846 #6/6 | 8.8%/yr #1/6 | 3.4% #6/6 | 0.548 #5/6 |
| Wibaux County, MT | 1,193 | $72,838 | 7.8%/yr | 1.7% | 0.520 |
| Billings County, ND | 1,023 | $95,376 | 4.9%/yr | 2.1% | 0.530 |
| Slope County, ND | 766 | $72,272 | 2.6%/yr | 2.7% | 0.534 |
| Fallon County, MT | 2,760 | $75,839 | 5.9%/yr | 1.0% | 0.549 |
| Bowman County, ND | 2,906 | $73,774 | 2.0%/yr | 3.1% | 0.500 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Golden Valley County, North Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with North Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Golden Valley County, North Dakota.
How Rich Is Golden Valley County, North Dakota?
Golden Valley 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 $71,846, about 7% lower than the North Dakota average of $76,862.
Are incomes growing in Golden Valley County, North Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Golden Valley County, North Dakota rose 146%, from $29,209 to $71,846. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Dakota as a whole: +146% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Golden Valley County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Golden Valley County, North Dakota was $76,361, down 6% from $81,476 in 2022. The North Dakota median that year was $76,063.
What was the median household income in Golden Valley County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Golden Valley County, North Dakota was $68,333. By 2024 it had risen 5% to $71,846.
What is the Gini coefficient in Golden Valley County, North Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Golden Valley County is 0.548. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Golden Valley County, North Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Golden Valley County, North Dakota has narrowed from about 39% to 36% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2021, and was narrowest at 16% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,301 since 2009.
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