5th most populous of 53
With 40,763 residents in 2024, Williams County ranks 5th by population among North Dakota's 53 counties and is home to 5.1% of the state's residents.
Williams County is home to 40,763 people (2024 estimate) on 2,078 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
40,763
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
40,951
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−0.5%
2020–2024
Land area
2,078 mi²
5,381 km²
Population density
19.6 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
667
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
251
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+416
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+1,045
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$76,176
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$7.5 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$85,595
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
24.4%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
8.5%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$284,800
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.5%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202440,763▲ 107%
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 | 40,763 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 22,398 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 19,705 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +106.9% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +251 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | +794 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 16.4 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 6.2 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in North Dakota | 5th of 53 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $76,176 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $7.5 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $85,595 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 24.4% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 8.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $284,800 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,123/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 31.8 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 15,154 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.0% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Williams County in context
Comparable indicators for Williams County, North Dakota and the United States.
| Indicator | County | North Dakota | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −0.5% | +2.2% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 16.4 | 12.0 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 6.2 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 25.6 | 6.1 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 19.6 | 11.5 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $76,176 | $71,749 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $85,595 | $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 | 24.4% | 32.7% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 8.5% | 4.7% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $284,800 | $249,900 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,123/month | $954/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 31.8 years | 35.9 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.0% | 62.9% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
1 city · choose how to order them
Williston
29,900 residents
Did you know? Williams County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 19,705 in 2000 to 40,763 in 2024, a change of +106.9%, compared with +24.1% for North Dakota as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 667 births and 251 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 416.
Peak population in 2020
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 41,189 in 2020. The 2024 figure is 426 lower.
6th in density
Williams County has about 19.6 residents per square mile of land, ranking 6th of 53 counties; North Dakota averages 11.5.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $85,595 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 9th of 53 North Dakota counties; the state median is $76,657.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $7.5 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 3rd largest among 53 North Dakota counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 3.9% 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