Brick riverfront buildings in Fargo at dusk
County in North Dakota

Cass County

Cass County has the highest share of college graduates in North Dakota (42.6% of adults) and the largest economy ($19.1 billion GDP).

Cass County is home to 200,945 people (2024 estimate) on 1,765 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
200,945
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
184,531
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+8.9%
2020–2024
Land area
1,765 mi²
4,571 km²
Population density
113.9 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
2,359
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,208
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+1,151
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+1,639
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$74,118
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$19.1 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$75,555
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
11.0%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
42.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
7.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$298,000
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.2%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
200,945▲ 62%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate200,9452024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census149,7782010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000123,662July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+62.5%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+2,1902024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration−5512024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate11.7 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate6.0 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in North Dakota1st of 532024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$74,118BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$19.1 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$75,555ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate11.0%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher42.6%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents7.7%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$298,000ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$958/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age32.8 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households83,945ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes52.0%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Cass County in context

Comparable indicators for Cass County, North Dakota and the United States.

IndicatorCountyNorth DakotaU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024+8.9%+2.2%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)11.712.010.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)6.08.69.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)8.26.18.22024
Population density (/mi²)113.911.596.32024
Per capita personal income$74,118$71,749$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$75,555$76,657$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate11.0%10.8%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher42.6%32.7%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents7.7%4.7%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$298,000$249,900$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$958/month$954/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age32.8 years35.9 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes52.0%62.9%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

2 cities · choose how to order them

Fargo
136,285 residents
West Fargo
40,600 residents

Did you know? Cass County

1st most populous of 53

With 200,945 residents in 2024, Cass County ranks 1st by population among North Dakota's 53 counties and is home to 25.2% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 123,662 in 2000 to 200,945 in 2024, a change of +62.5%, compared with +24.1% for North Dakota as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 2,359 births and 1,208 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 1,151.

Record population

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 200,945.

1st in density

Cass County has about 113.9 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 53 counties; North Dakota averages 11.5.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $75,555 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 23rd of 53 North Dakota counties; the state median is $76,657.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $19.1 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 1st largest among 53 North Dakota counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 2.7% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology