HomeNorth DakotaGrand Forks County
Grand Forks County, North Dakota: commercial real estate data.
Grand Forks County, North Dakota had an estimated 73,771 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 73,169, across 1,436 square miles. County output reached $5.92 bn in 2024, 1,903 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 67 7(a) approvals worth $40.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Grand Forks County
How many people live in Grand Forks County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202472,923
- Households31,295
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$68,075
- Median age30.9
- Median gross rent$992 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$252,700
- Home value to household income3.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher38.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over43,548
- Population under 1815,443
- Share under 1821.2 percent
- Population 65 and over10,391
- Share 65 and over14.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6447,089
- Civilian labor force40,726
- Unemployment rate2.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.9 percent
- Rank by population among North Dakota counties3rd of 53
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included767th of 3,222
Grand Forks County is the 3rd largest of 53 North Dakota counties by population. A median home costs 3.7 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.2 percent against 14.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Grand Forks County
Is Grand Forks County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202473,771
- Census 2020 base population73,169
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.82 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024573
- Births, 2024834
- Deaths, 2024567
- Natural change, 2024267
- Net domestic migration, 2024-375
- Net international migration, 2024685
- Total net migration, 2024310
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-2,193
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1547th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.82 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Grand Forks County
Where are people moving to Grand Forks County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,320
- People arriving, from those returns3,864
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,716
- Net household movement-396
- Adjusted gross income arriving$117.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-32.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$50,665
- Average income of a leaving household$55,078
- Largest single originPolk County (238 households)
- Largest single destinationCass County (339 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 238 | 386 | $12.4 m |
| Cass County | 185 | 280 | $7.9 m |
| Walsh County | 72 | 120 | $3.7 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 61 | 154 | $3.5 m |
| Traill County | 49 | 87 | $2.4 m |
| Marshall County | 45 | 67 | $2.2 m |
| Hennepin County | 40 | 51 | $1.9 m |
| Ramsey County | 39 | 57 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $4,413 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Polk County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Grand Forks County
What is the Grand Forks County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.92 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.51 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.5 percent
- GDP change over five years38.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Dakota areas BEA publishes4th of 53
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes655th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$81,185
Output grew 7.5 percent in the latest year and 38.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Grand Forks County
Employment by industry in Grand Forks County
- Covered employment, annual average40,704
- Establishments reporting2,774
- Average annual pay$59,530
- Average weekly wage$1,145
- Health care and social assistance, employment6,973
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$70,566
- Retail trade, employment5,548
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,111
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,033
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,567
- Manufacturing, employment2,827
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,370
- Construction, employment2,482
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment1,541
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 6,973 | 289 | $70,566 |
| Retail trade | 5,548 | 281 | $37,111 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,033 | 198 | $23,567 |
| Manufacturing | 2,827 | 82 | $64,370 |
| Construction | 2,482 | 303 | $72,672 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,541 | 319 | $91,681 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,508 | 194 | $49,929 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,386 | 169 | $79,020 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 6,973 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Grand Forks County
How many businesses are in Grand Forks County?
- Establishments, all industries1,903
- Employment at those establishments31,719
- Annual payroll$1.71 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Grand Forks County
Building permits in Grand Forks County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024182
- Declared construction value permitted$32.8 m
- Single family units authorized114
- Multifamily units authorized68
- Multifamily share of units37.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$180,484
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.8
Single-family homes are 62.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Grand Forks County
SBA loans in Grand Forks County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded67
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$40.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$600,148
- Median 7(a) approval$258,200
- 10th percentile approval$39,900
- 90th percentile approval$1,264,800
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)685
- Jobs per approval10.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals44
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter57
- Franchise loans8
- Franchise share of approvals11.9 percent
- Most active lenderBank Forward (16)
- 504 approvals recorded54
- 504 gross approval dollars$43.8 m
- Average 504 approval$810,667
- Median 504 approval$525,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval11.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.5
- Most active CDCDakota Business Lending (27)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$84.0 m
The average approval of $600,148 sits well above the median of $258,200, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 6.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Grand Forks County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Grand Forks County
Do SBA loans in Grand Forks County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded20
- Paid in full20
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full20
- Status: Exempt from disclosure39
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 20 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Grand Forks County
SBA lending by place in Grand Forks County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Grand Forks, approvals57
- Northwood, approvals4
- Larimore, approvals3
- Emerado, approvals1
- Mekinock, approvals1
- Thompson, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | 57 | $36,476,000 |
| Northwood | 4 | $3,272,400 |
| Larimore | 3 | $216,500 |
| Emerado | 1 | $150,000 |
| Mekinock | 1 | $80,000 |
| Thompson | 1 | $15,000 |
Grand Forks accounts for 57 approvals against 4 in Northwood. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Grand Forks County
How large is Grand Forks County?
- Land area1,436 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Dakota counties17th of 53
- Width, east to west46.9 mi
- Height, north to south36.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land51
- Establishments per square mile1.33
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Grand Forks County
Flood risk in Grand Forks County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Grand Forks County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 380033
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book32
- Of those, participating in the NFIP21
- NFIP participation rate65.6 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Grand Forks County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Grand Forks County (community 380033), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Grand Forks County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 65.6 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Grand Forks County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Grand Forks County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202472,923
- Households31,295
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$68,075
- Median age30.9
Common questions
Grand Forks County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Grand Forks County, North Dakota?
The Census Bureau estimates 73,771 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 72,923, in 31,295 households, ranking 3rd of 53 North Dakota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Grand Forks County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.82 percent since the 2020 census base of 73,169, to 73,771 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 834 births against 567 deaths, with net migration of 310. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Grand Forks County?
$68,075. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $252,700, which is 3.7 times income, and median gross rent is $992 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Grand Forks County?
1,903 establishments, employing 31,719 people with an annual payroll of $1.71 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Grand Forks County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 6,973 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 40,704 jobs at an average annual pay of $59,530, or $1,145 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Grand Forks County?
67 7(a) approvals totaling $40.2 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $258,200, plus 54 504 approvals worth $43.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Grand Forks County?
182 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $32.8 m. Multifamily was 37.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Grand Forks County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Grand Forks County come from?
The largest single origin is Polk County, with 238 households. Arriving households report an average income of $50,665 against $55,078 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Grand Forks County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Grand Forks County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Grand Forks County
Cities and places in Grand Forks.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Grand Forks County. All 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | city | 59,042 | 57 | Wholly in this county |
| Grand Forks AFB | CDP | 1,987 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Larimore | city | 1,240 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Thompson | city | 1,138 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Northwood | city | 1,046 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Manvel | city | 368 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Reynolds | city | 349 | None recorded | 33.6 percent here, 66.4 percent Traill County |
| Emerado | city | 346 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Gilby | city | 322 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Inkster | city | 27 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Niagara | city | 24 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 67 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Grand Forks County, the largest being Mekinock (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.