4th most populous of 53
With 68,427 residents in 2024, Ward County ranks 4th by population among North Dakota's 53 counties and is home to 8.6% of the state's residents.
Ward County is home to 68,427 people (2024 estimate) on 2,013 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
68,427
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
69,922
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−2.1%
2020–2024
Land area
2,013 mi²
5,214 km²
Population density
34.0 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
957
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
507
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+450
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−432
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$68,835
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$5.1 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$78,238
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
29.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
3.8%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$267,100
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
2000–202468,427▲ 16%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 68,427 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 61,675 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 58,839 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +16.3% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +293 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −725 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 14.0 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 7.4 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in North Dakota | 4th of 53 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $68,835 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $5.1 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $78,238 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 29.6% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.8% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $267,100 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,048/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 33.6 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 28,568 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.8% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Ward County in context
Comparable indicators for Ward County, North Dakota and the United States.
| Indicator | County | North Dakota | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −2.1% | +2.2% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 14.0 | 12.0 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 7.4 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | -6.3 | 6.1 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 34.0 | 11.5 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $68,835 | $71,749 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $78,238 | $76,657 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 10.8% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 29.6% | 32.7% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.8% | 4.7% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $267,100 | $249,900 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,048/month | $954/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 33.6 years | 35.9 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.8% | 62.9% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
1 city · choose how to order them
Minot
48,600 residents
Did you know? Ward County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 58,839 in 2000 to 68,427 in 2024, a change of +16.3%, compared with +24.1% for North Dakota as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 957 births and 507 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 450.
Peak population in 2015
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 71,409 in 2015. The 2024 figure is 2,982 lower.
4th in density
Ward County has about 34.0 residents per square mile of land, ranking 4th of 53 counties; North Dakota averages 11.5.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $78,238 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 18th of 53 North Dakota counties; the state median is $76,657.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $5.1 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 5th largest among 53 North Dakota counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 0.8% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS