McHenry County, North Dakota Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
McHenry County, ND Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
-
B
Health Around average
-
B
Income Around average
-
D
Education Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | McHenry County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,207 | 784,730 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2.7 | 11.1 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -1.55% | 0.80% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 41.9 | 36.3 | 37.3 |
| Households | 2,244 | 331,016 | 130,235,071 |
Population in McHenry County declined by 1.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 5,207 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in McHenry County is Gen X, aged 45–60, at 21.8% of residents. That is 4.1 points above North Dakota as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 849 16.3% -7.3 pts
- Millennials 29–44 933 17.9% -3.3 pts
- Gen X 45–60 1,134 21.8% +4.1 pts
- Boomers 61–79 1,119 21.5% +5.6 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below North Dakota, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 48.6% of the people living in McHenry County and men 51.4%.
- Women 48.6% North Dakota 49.0%
- Men 51.4% North Dakota 51.0%
How many residents match a customer profile?
Residents matching this profile
100% of everyone living in McHenry County
Pick an age range and a women/men split and the figure above answers with how many residents that profile reaches.
Economy
McHenry County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | McHenry County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,692 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.28% | 3.32% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in McHenry County is about 2% higher than in North Dakota.
Housing
| Metric | McHenry County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $7,777 | $125,877 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $712 | $953 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.4% | 62.9% | 65.2% |
The median home price in McHenry County is about 0.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $712 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in McHenry County spend about 58 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 241 hours, about 10.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | McHenry County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 28.9 | 13.8 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 57.8 | 27.6 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 241 | 115 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,469 | $3,567 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 933 | 2,106 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 112 | 360 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
North Dakota:
McIntosh County (6.9 min), Foster County (7.7 min), Pierce County (7.7 min).
Slowest:
McHenry County (28.9 min), Renville County (23.5 min), Oliver County (22.8 min).
The average commute time in McHenry County is 29 minutes, longer than the 14 minutes in North Dakota.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
McHenry County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | McHenry County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 29.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.29 | 2.29 | 2.53 |
Highest education index among counties in
North Dakota:
Cass County (0.3), Burleigh County (0.3), Grand Forks County (0.3).
Lowest:
Sioux County (0.2), Sheridan County (0.2), Hettinger County (0.2).
Health
McHenry County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | McHenry County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.2 | 79.4 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.4% | 14.3% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.6% | 18.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
North Dakota:
Burleigh County (0.8), Steele County (0.8), Cass County (0.8).
Lowest:
Sioux County (0.7), Rolette County (0.7), Benson County (0.8).
McHenry County, ND Compared With Nearby Counties
How McHenry County, ND compares with the 1 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McHenry County, ND | 5,207 | $78,692 #1/2 | $7,777 #2/2 | 28.9 min #2/2 |
| Ward County, ND | 68,973 | $78,102 | $49,999 | 13.9 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about McHenry County, North Dakota.
How many people live in McHenry County, North Dakota?
About 5,207 people live in McHenry County, North Dakota, in 2,244 households of 2.3 people on average. The median age is 41.9, so residents are older than the U.S. median of 37.3 by about 5 years.
How densely populated is McHenry County, North Dakota?
Averaged over its land area, McHenry County, North Dakota has 3 people per square mile, a density typical of rural areas. That is about 3% of the U.S. average of 86.
Can a typical household afford a home in McHenry County, North Dakota?
The median home costs 0.1 times the median household income ($7,777 against $78,692), compared with 3.1 times nationally. That is within the traditional rule of thumb of about 3 times income. Median rent of $712 a month takes about 11% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
How strong is the job market in McHenry County, North Dakota?
Unemployment in McHenry County, North Dakota is only 4.1%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
How common is a college degree in McHenry County, North Dakota?
18.4% of adults in McHenry County, North Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 1 in 5), well below the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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