You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in North Dakota.
The median household income in Mckenzie County, the richest county in North Dakota is $88,289, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 53 counties in the Peace Garden State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In North Dakota For 2025
- McKenzie County
- Williams County
- Burleigh County
- Dunn County
- Billings County
- Stark County
- McLean County
- Traill County
- Mountrail County
- Morton County
What is the richest county in North Dakota? The richest county in North Dakota is Mckenzie County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Sioux County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in North Dakota. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in North Dakota and the cheapest places to live in North Dakota.
The Richest Counties In North Dakota For 2025
1. Mckenzie County
Biggest Place: Watford City
Population: 14,280
Median Income: $88,289 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $357,300 (highest)
More on Mckenzie County:
2. Williams County
Biggest Place: Williston
Population: 39,368
Median Income: $90,224 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $267,800 (5th highest)
More on Williams County:
3. Burleigh County
Biggest Place: Bismarck
Population: 98,986
Median Income: $84,948 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $314,700 (3rd highest)
More on Burleigh County:
4. Dunn County
Biggest Place: Killdeer
Population: 4,043
Median Income: $94,688 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $244,000 (10th highest)
More on Dunn County:
5. Billings County
Biggest Place: Medora
Population: 948
Median Income: $81,250 (13th highest)
Median Home Price: $322,500 (2nd highest)
More on Billings County:
6. Stark County
Biggest Place: Dickinson
Population: 33,116
Median Income: $80,744 (14th highest)
Median Home Price: $260,400 (6th highest)
More on Stark County:
7. Mclean County
Biggest Place: Garrison
Population: 9,807
Median Income: $81,847 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $233,100 (11th highest)
More on Mclean County:
8. Traill County
Biggest Place: Mayville
Population: 7,980
Median Income: $88,289 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $193,200 (17th highest)
More on Traill County:
9. Mountrail County
Biggest Place: New Town
Population: 9,567
Median Income: $81,292 (12th highest)
Median Home Price: $222,200 (12th highest)
More on Mountrail County:
10. Morton County
Biggest Place: Mandan
Population: 33,479
Median Income: $79,483 (17th highest)
Median Home Price: $249,600 (8th highest)
More on Morton County:
Methodology: How do you determine which North Dakota county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in North Dakota, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in North Dakota for each of the criteria from one to 53, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In North Dakota.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Peace Garden State.
We updated this article for 2025. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in North Dakota. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In North Dakota For 2025
Living in North Dakota can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in North Dakota are McKenzie County, Williams County, Burleigh County, Dunn County, Billings County, Stark County, McLean County, Traill County, Mountrail County, and Morton County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in North Dakota according to the data:
- Sioux County
- Grant County
- Rolette County
For more North Dakota reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Dakota
- Richest Cities In North Dakota
- Best Counties To Live In North Dakota
- Best Places To Live In North Dakota
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In North Dakota
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mckenzie County | 14,280 | $88,289 | $357,300 |
| 2 | Williams County | 39,368 | $90,224 | $267,800 |
| 3 | Burleigh County | 98,986 | $84,948 | $314,700 |
| 4 | Dunn County | 4,043 | $94,688 | $244,000 |
| 5 | Billings County | 948 | $81,250 | $322,500 |
| 6 | Stark County | 33,116 | $80,744 | $260,400 |
| 7 | Mclean County | 9,807 | $81,847 | $233,100 |
| 8 | Traill County | 7,980 | $88,289 | $193,200 |
| 9 | Mountrail County | 9,567 | $81,292 | $222,200 |
| 10 | Morton County | 33,479 | $79,483 | $249,600 |
| 11 | Divide County | 2,174 | $89,297 | $173,100 |
| 12 | Ward County | 69,232 | $79,273 | $259,100 |
| 13 | Bottineau County | 6,390 | $83,460 | $190,900 |
| 14 | Bowman County | 2,935 | $83,773 | $176,400 |
| 15 | Cass County | 189,286 | $75,023 | $284,700 |
| 16 | Burke County | 2,163 | $96,339 | $141,900 |
| 17 | Mercer County | 8,341 | $79,405 | $196,200 |
| 18 | Oliver County | 1,821 | $76,953 | $217,000 |
| 19 | Foster County | 3,372 | $83,412 | $162,800 |
| 20 | Grand Forks County | 72,764 | $68,450 | $244,200 |
| 21 | Mchenry County | 5,264 | $80,614 | $143,200 |
| 22 | Richland County | 16,550 | $72,524 | $177,600 |
| 23 | Ransom County | 5,662 | $74,521 | $174,800 |
| 24 | Sargent County | 3,822 | $77,697 | $149,600 |
| 25 | Renville County | 2,277 | $76,311 | $163,400 |
| 26 | Barnes County | 10,794 | $70,230 | $168,100 |
| 27 | Steele County | 1,731 | $80,313 | $120,400 |
| 28 | Golden Valley County | 1,679 | $76,528 | $119,200 |
| 29 | Ramsey County | 11,563 | $61,319 | $197,400 |
| 30 | Stutsman County | 21,525 | $60,172 | $200,300 |
| 31 | Walsh County | 10,488 | $69,976 | $125,700 |
| 32 | Dickey County | 4,959 | $63,125 | $167,100 |
| 33 | Lamoure County | 4,107 | $70,263 | $118,000 |
| 34 | Pierce County | 3,961 | $63,214 | $143,400 |
| 35 | Griggs County | 2,340 | $64,737 | $128,200 |
| 36 | Hettinger County | 2,453 | $70,827 | $110,900 |
| 37 | Cavalier County | 3,663 | $67,064 | $122,300 |
| 38 | Nelson County | 3,015 | $68,051 | $114,500 |
| 39 | Kidder County | 2,374 | $61,850 | $138,500 |
| 40 | Towner County | 2,113 | $63,017 | $122,800 |
| 41 | Pembina County | 6,787 | $66,884 | $116,600 |
| 42 | Emmons County | 3,269 | $67,368 | $112,400 |
| 43 | Slope County | 795 | $62,500 | $121,300 |
| 44 | Sheridan County | 1,327 | $67,361 | $107,700 |
| 45 | Benson County | 5,861 | $68,049 | $83,100 |
| 46 | Wells County | 3,942 | $61,346 | $106,400 |
| 47 | Mcintosh County | 2,512 | $64,236 | $80,300 |
| 48 | Eddy County | 2,319 | $55,389 | $115,500 |
| 49 | Logan County | 1,848 | $61,339 | $101,800 |
| 50 | Adams County | 2,179 | $55,417 | $108,300 |
| 51 | Rolette County | 12,065 | $57,355 | $93,000 |
| 52 | Grant County | 2,276 | $56,750 | $85,800 |
| 53 | Sioux County | 3,789 | $41,676 | $87,400 |