HomeNorth DakotaStark County
Stark County, North Dakota: commercial real estate data.
Stark County, North Dakota had an estimated 33,767 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 33,650, across 1,335 square miles. County output reached $3.60 bn in 2024, 1,222 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 23 7(a) approvals worth $13.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Stark County
How many people live in Stark County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202433,302
- Households13,537
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$84,449
- Median age34.8
- Median gross rent$960 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$271,700
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher30.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over21,588
- Population under 189,201
- Share under 1827.6 percent
- Population 65 and over4,661
- Share 65 and over14.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6419,440
- Civilian labor force17,403
- Unemployment rate3.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over72.2 percent
- Rank by population among North Dakota counties7th of 53
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1386th of 3,222
Stark County is the 7th largest of 53 North Dakota counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 27.6 percent against 14.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Stark County
Is Stark County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202433,767
- Census 2020 base population33,650
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.35 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024650
- Births, 2024494
- Deaths, 2024267
- Natural change, 2024227
- Net domestic migration, 2024315
- Net international migration, 2024110
- Total net migration, 2024425
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-1,172
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1703rd of 3,144
The county has grown 0.35 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.
Stark County
Where are people moving to Stark County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving909
- People arriving, from those returns1,684
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,001
- Net household movement-92
- Adjusted gross income arriving$58.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-9.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$64,176
- Average income of a leaving household$67,931
- Largest single originDunn County (50 households)
- Largest single destinationBurleigh County (93 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunn County | 50 | 91 | $4.1 m |
| Burleigh County | 41 | 65 | $2.2 m |
| McKenzie County | 27 | 54 | $2.1 m |
| Williams County | 27 | 46 | $1.6 m |
| Morton County | 25 | 41 | $1.7 m |
| Cass County | 20 | 28 | $794,000 |
Households arriving report $3,755 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Dunn 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.
Stark County
What is the Stark County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.60 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.48 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.5 percent
- GDP change over five years36.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Dakota areas BEA publishes7th of 53
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes873rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$108,237
Output grew 3.5 percent in the latest year and 36.3 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.
Stark County
Employment by industry in Stark County
- Covered employment, annual average19,526
- Establishments reporting1,566
- Average annual pay$72,320
- Average weekly wage$1,391
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, employment2,762
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, average annual pay$128,474
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,044
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$53,940
- Retail trade, employment2,012
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,155
- Construction, employment1,719
- Construction, average annual pay$88,568
- Manufacturing, employment1,662
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,564
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 2,762 | 87 | $128,474 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,044 | 147 | $53,940 |
| Retail trade | 2,012 | 162 | $43,155 |
| Construction | 1,719 | 175 | $88,568 |
| Manufacturing | 1,662 | 44 | $74,012 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,564 | 99 | $23,656 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,213 | 107 | $93,450 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 954 | 103 | $90,068 |
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction is the largest private sector at 2,762 jobs, 14.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Stark County
How many businesses are in Stark County?
- Establishments, all industries1,222
- Employment at those establishments14,599
- Annual payroll$980.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents36.7
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.
Stark County
Building permits in Stark County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202427
- Declared construction value permitted$11.4 m
- Single family units authorized27
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$421,969
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.0
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Stark County
SBA loans in Stark County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded23
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$13.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$584,196
- Median 7(a) approval$258,000
- 10th percentile approval$26,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,042,000
- Largest single approval$2,995,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)306
- Jobs per approval13.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals15
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter19
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals17.4 percent
- Most active lenderChoice Financial Group (8)
- 504 approvals recorded61
- 504 gross approval dollars$45.3 m
- Average 504 approval$742,705
- Median 504 approval$358,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval13.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.7
- Most active CDCDakota Business Lending (39)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$58.7 m
The average approval of $584,196 sits well above the median of $258,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.4 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.
Stark County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Stark County
Do SBA loans in Stark County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full6
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure10
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 7 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.
Stark County
SBA lending by place in Stark County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Dickinson, approvals19
- South Heart, approvals2
- Belfield, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Dickinson | 19 | $10,486,500 |
| South Heart | 2 | $2,590,000 |
| Belfield | 2 | $360,000 |
Dickinson accounts for 19 approvals against 2 in South Heart. 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.
Stark County
How large is Stark County?
- Land area1,335 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Dakota counties21st of 53
- Width, east to west53.7 mi
- Height, north to south26.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land25
- Establishments per square mile0.92
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.
Stark County
Flood risk in Stark County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Stark County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 385369
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate71.4 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Stark 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 Stark County (community 385369), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Stark 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 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 71.4 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 Stark 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 Stark County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202433,302
- Households13,537
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$84,449
- Median age34.8
Common questions
Stark County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Stark County, North Dakota?
The Census Bureau estimates 33,767 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 33,302, in 13,537 households, ranking 7th of 53 North Dakota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Stark County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.35 percent since the 2020 census base of 33,650, to 33,767 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 494 births against 267 deaths, with net migration of 425. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Stark County?
$84,449. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $271,700, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $960 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Stark County?
1,222 establishments, employing 14,599 people with an annual payroll of $980.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Stark County?
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction is the largest private sector at 2,762 jobs, 14.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 19,526 jobs at an average annual pay of $72,320, or $1,391 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Stark County?
23 7(a) approvals totaling $13.4 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $258,000, plus 61 504 approvals worth $45.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Stark County?
27 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $11.4 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Stark 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 Stark County come from?
The largest single origin is Dunn County, with 50 households. Arriving households report an average income of $64,176 against $67,931 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Stark 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 Stark 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.
Stark County
Cities and places in Stark.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Stark County. All 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson | city | 25,357 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Richardton | city | 768 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Belfield | city | 685 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| South Heart | city | 503 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Gladstone | city | 230 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Taylor | city | 179 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |