McKenzie County, North Dakota Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
McKenzie 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.
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B
Health Around averageLess healthy than 84% of counties in North Dakota
-
B
Income Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in North Dakota
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D
Education Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | McKenzie County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,321 | 784,730 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 5.0 | 11.1 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 3.74% | 0.80% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 33.4 | 36.3 | 37.3 |
| Households | 5,997 | 331,016 | 130,235,071 |
Population in McKenzie County grew by 155.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 14,321 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in McKenzie County is Gen Z, aged 13–28, at 22.2% of residents. That is 1.4 points below North Dakota as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 3,176 22.2% -1.4 pts
- Millennials 29–44 3,120 21.8% +0.6 pts
- Gen X 45–60 2,793 19.5% +1.9 pts
- Boomers 61–79 1,643 11.5% -4.4 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 46.9% of the people living in McKenzie County and men 53.1%.
- Women 46.9% North Dakota 49.0%
- Men 53.1% North Dakota 51.0%
How many residents match a customer profile?
Residents matching this profile
100% of everyone living in McKenzie County
Pick an age range and a women/men split and the figure above answers with how many residents that profile reaches.
Economy
McKenzie County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | McKenzie County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $97,512 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 2.69% | 3.32% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.3% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in McKenzie County is about 27% higher than in North Dakota.
Housing
| Metric | McKenzie County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $32,222 | $125,877 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,284 | $953 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.4% | 62.9% | 65.2% |
The median home price in McKenzie County is about 2.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,284 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in McKenzie County spend about 34 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 140 hours, about 5.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | McKenzie County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 16.9 | 13.8 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 33.7 | 27.6 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 140 | 115 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,355 | $3,567 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,134 | 2,106 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 411 | 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 McKenzie County is 17 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
McKenzie County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | McKenzie County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 29.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.34 | 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
McKenzie County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | McKenzie County | North Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.5 | 79.4 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 15.9% | 14.3% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 23.2% | 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).
McKenzie County, ND Compared With Nearby Counties
How McKenzie County, ND compares with the 1 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKenzie County, ND | 14,321 | $97,512 #1/2 | $32,222 #2/2 | 16.9 min #2/2 |
| Williams County, ND | 39,554 | $84,931 | $438,114 | 13.9 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about McKenzie County, North Dakota.
How big is McKenzie County, North Dakota by population?
About 14,321 people live in McKenzie County, North Dakota, in 5,997 households of 2.3 people on average. The median age is 33.4, so residents are younger than the U.S. median of 37.3 by about 4 years.
Is McKenzie County, North Dakota urban or rural?
Averaged over its land area, McKenzie County, North Dakota has 5 people per square mile, a density typical of rural areas. That is about 6% of the U.S. average of 86.
Can a typical household afford a home in McKenzie County, North Dakota?
The median home costs 0.3 times the median household income ($32,222 against $97,512), compared with 3.1 times nationally. That is within the traditional rule of thumb of about 3 times income. Median rent of $1,284 a month takes about 16% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
Is it hard to find a job in McKenzie County, North Dakota?
Unemployment in McKenzie County, North Dakota is only 1.3%, 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 McKenzie County, North Dakota?
23.2% of adults in McKenzie County, North Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 1 in 4), well below the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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