Grand Forks County, North Dakota Income Statistics
Grand Forks 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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C
Grand Forks County Below averageLess wealthy than 88% of counties in North Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Grand Forks County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,503 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,924 | $59,016 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 3.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.8% | 12.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.5% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Grand Forks County is about 10% lower than in North Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Grand Forks County (4.0%/yr) than in North Dakota (3.3%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks County, North Dakota grew by 63.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,503 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Grand Forks County
| Metric | Grand Forks County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.513 | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,255 | $67,903 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,146 | $53,536 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.6% | 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 Grand Forks County, it is 0.513, higher than North Dakota's 0.506, so income is less 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 17% more than women's income in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $318,815 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Grand Forks County, North Dakota has narrowed from about 21% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $850 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Grand Forks County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.5% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 13 | 22 |
Approximately 949 people are unemployed in Grand Forks County, North Dakota.
The average commute time in Grand Forks County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 13 minutes in North Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Grand Forks County, North Dakota has fallen from 4.5% to 2.3% in 2024.
Grand Forks County, ND Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Grand Forks County, ND is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 72,923 residents against a local median of 6,727. Grand Forks County, ND sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 4% below the local median at $69,503 against $72,514. Grand Forks County, ND has the 5th highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks County, ND | 72,923 | $69,503 #5/6 | 4.0%/yr #3/6 | 2.3% #4/6 | 0.513 #4/6 |
| Walsh County, ND | 10,396 | $72,514 | 4.4%/yr | 1.9% | 0.490 |
| Steele County, ND | 1,804 | $76,562 | 3.5%/yr | 3.3% | 0.526 |
| Traill County, ND | 7,970 | $87,911 | 5.7%/yr | 2.2% | 0.506 |
| Nelson County, ND | 3,016 | $69,999 | 3.9%/yr | 1.1% | 0.487 |
| Pembina County, ND | 6,727 | $68,914 | 2.3%/yr | 3.3% | 0.518 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Grand Forks County, North Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with North Dakota, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Grand Forks County, North Dakota.
How Rich Is Grand Forks County, North Dakota?
Grand Forks County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,503, about 10% lower than the North Dakota average of $76,862.
How fast is household income rising in Grand Forks County, North Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Grand Forks County, North Dakota rose 64%, from $42,488 to $69,503. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Dakota as a whole: +64% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Grand Forks County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Grand Forks County, North Dakota was $68,149, up 5% from $64,660 in 2022. The North Dakota median that year was $76,063.
What was the median household income in Grand Forks County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Grand Forks County, North Dakota was $54,586. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $69,503.
What is the Gini coefficient in Grand Forks County, North Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Grand Forks County is 0.513. 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 Grand Forks County, North Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Grand Forks County, North Dakota has narrowed from about 21% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $850 since 2009.
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