Oil pumpjacks on the western prairie at sunset
County in North Dakota

McKenzie County

McKenzie County has the most expensive homes in North Dakota (median value $349,600) and the 2nd highest median household income ($93,404).

McKenzie County is home to 14,782 people (2024 estimate) on 2,760 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
14,782
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
14,707
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+0.5%
2020–2024
Land area
2,760 mi²
7,149 km²
Population density
5.4 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
217
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
94
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+123
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+381
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$83,041
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$4.4 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$93,404
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
12.0%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
19.1%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
5.0%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$349,600
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.3%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
14,782▲ 158%

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 estimate14,7822024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census6,3602010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 20005,722July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+158.3%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+472024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration+3342024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate14.7 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate6.4 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in North Dakota10th of 532024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$83,041BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$4.4 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$93,404ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate12.0%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher19.1%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents5.0%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$349,600ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,284/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age31.5 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households5,997ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes53.4%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

McKenzie County in context

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

IndicatorCountyNorth DakotaU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024+0.5%+2.2%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)14.712.010.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)6.48.69.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)25.86.18.22024
Population density (/mi²)5.411.596.32024
Per capita personal income$83,041$71,749$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$93,404$76,657$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate12.0%10.8%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher19.1%32.7%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents5.0%4.7%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$349,600$249,900$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,284/month$954/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age31.5 years35.9 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes53.4%62.9%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Did you know? McKenzie County

10th most populous of 53

With 14,782 residents in 2024, McKenzie County ranks 10th by population among North Dakota's 53 counties and is home to 1.9% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 5,722 in 2000 to 14,782 in 2024, a change of +158.3%, compared with +24.1% for North Dakota as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 217 births and 94 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 123.

Peak population in 2019

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 15,038 in 2019. The 2024 figure is 256 lower.

18th in density

McKenzie County has about 5.4 residents per square mile of land, ranking 18th of 53 counties; North Dakota averages 11.5.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $93,404 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 2nd of 53 North Dakota counties; the state median is $76,657.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $4.4 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 6th 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