Steele County, North Dakota Income Statistics
Steele 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.
-
B
Steele County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in North Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Steele County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,562 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,345 | $59,016 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.5% | 3.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 15.8% | 12.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.2% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Steele County is about the same as in North Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Steele County (3.5%/yr) than in North Dakota (3.3%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Steele 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 Steele County, North Dakota grew by 69.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,562 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Steele County
| Metric | Steele County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.526 | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,427 | $67,903 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,071 | $53,536 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.5% | 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 Steele County, it is 0.526, 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 40% more than women's income in Steele County, North Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $712,460 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Steele County, North Dakota has narrowed from about 39% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 48% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,223 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Steele County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.3% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 13 | 22 |
Approximately 27 people are unemployed in Steele County, North Dakota.
The average commute time in Steele County is 13 minutes, about the same as in North Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Steele County, North Dakota has risen from 1.4% to 3.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.1% in 2019 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2020.
Steele County, ND Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Steele County, ND is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,804 residents against a local median of 7,970. Steele County, ND's unemployment, at 3.3%, runs 47% above the 2.2% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.7% on unemployment, so Steele County, ND sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Steele County, ND has the 5th lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steele County, ND | 1,804 | $76,562 #2/6 | 3.5%/yr #4/6 | 3.3% #5/6 | 0.526 #6/6 |
| Griggs County, ND | 2,245 | $62,216 | 2.8%/yr | 1.4% | 0.501 |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 72,923 | $69,503 | 4.0%/yr | 2.3% | 0.513 |
| Traill County, ND | 7,970 | $87,911 | 5.7%/yr | 2.2% | 0.506 |
| Barnes County, ND | 10,773 | $69,864 | 2.7%/yr | 3.8% | 0.514 |
| Nelson County, ND | 3,016 | $69,999 | 3.9%/yr | 1.1% | 0.487 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Steele 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 Steele County, North Dakota.
How Rich Is Steele County, North Dakota?
Steele 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 $76,562, close to the North Dakota average of $76,862.
How fast is household income rising in Steele County, North Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Steele County, North Dakota rose 70%, from $45,068 to $76,562. Over the same years, income here kept pace with North Dakota as a whole: +70% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Steele County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Steele County, North Dakota was $76,740, down 8% from $83,586 in 2022. The North Dakota median that year was $76,063.
What was the median household income in Steele County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Steele County, North Dakota was $77,954. By 2024 it had fallen 2% to $76,562.
What is the Gini coefficient in Steele County, North Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Steele County is 0.526. 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 Steele County, North Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Steele County, North Dakota has narrowed from about 39% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 48% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,223 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →