HomeNorth DakotaWard County
Ward County, North Dakota: commercial real estate data.
Ward County, North Dakota had an estimated 68,427 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 69,922, across 2,013 square miles. County output reached $5.09 bn in 2024, 2,043 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 51 7(a) approvals worth $25.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ward County
How many people live in Ward County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202468,973
- Households28,568
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$78,238
- Median age33.6
- Median gross rent$1,048 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$267,100
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher29.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over44,405
- Population under 1816,616
- Share under 1824.1 percent
- Population 65 and over9,636
- Share 65 and over14.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6442,721
- Civilian labor force33,658
- Unemployment rate3.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.3 percent
- Rank by population among North Dakota counties4th of 53
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included795th of 3,222
Ward County is the 4th largest of 53 North Dakota counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.1 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.
Ward County
Is Ward County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202468,427
- Census 2020 base population69,922
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.14 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20248
- Births, 2024957
- Deaths, 2024507
- Natural change, 2024450
- Net domestic migration, 2024-725
- Net international migration, 2024293
- Total net migration, 2024-432
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-3,993
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2540th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.14 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 by more than net migration took away, so the population grew even though more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ward County
Where are people moving to Ward County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,215
- People arriving, from those returns4,103
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,834
- Net household movement-619
- Adjusted gross income arriving$119.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-47.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$53,833
- Average income of a leaving household$58,962
- Largest single originForeign - APO/FPO ZIPs (115 households)
- Largest single destinationCass County (118 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 115 | 279 | $6.3 m |
| Burleigh County | 67 | 96 | $3.3 m |
| Mountrail County | 65 | 113 | $3.4 m |
| McHenry County | 60 | 100 | $5.9 m |
| Williams County | 50 | 77 | $2.8 m |
| Cass County | 48 | 73 | $3.9 m |
| Maricopa County | 44 | 71 | $1.9 m |
| Bottineau County | 38 | 71 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $5,129 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs, 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.
Ward County
What is the Ward County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.09 bn
- County GDP, 2023$4.93 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.4 percent
- GDP change over five years24.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Dakota areas BEA publishes5th of 53
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes711th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$73,850
Output grew 3.4 percent in the latest year and 24.2 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.
Ward County
Employment by industry in Ward County
- Covered employment, annual average31,358
- Establishments reporting2,723
- Average annual pay$60,491
- Average weekly wage$1,163
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,890
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$69,827
- Retail trade, employment4,648
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,526
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,367
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,156
- Construction, employment2,031
- Construction, average annual pay$70,163
- Wholesale trade, employment1,681
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, employment1,513
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 4,890 | 260 | $69,827 |
| Retail trade | 4,648 | 289 | $38,526 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,367 | 197 | $23,156 |
| Construction | 2,031 | 312 | $70,163 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,681 | 160 | $85,349 |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 1,513 | 53 | $134,980 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,187 | 134 | $66,779 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,082 | 168 | $54,226 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,890 jobs, 15.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ward County
How many businesses are in Ward County?
- Establishments, all industries2,043
- Employment at those establishments24,723
- Annual payroll$1.39 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.6
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.
Ward County
Building permits in Ward County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024130
- Declared construction value permitted$29.8 m
- Single family units authorized110
- Multifamily units authorized20
- Multifamily share of units15.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$229,366
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.6
Single-family homes are 84.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ward County
SBA loans in Ward County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded51
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$25.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$499,129
- Median 7(a) approval$137,300
- 10th percentile approval$42,200
- 90th percentile approval$1,440,000
- Largest single approval$4,911,500
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)480
- Jobs per approval9.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals31
- Median 7(a) term86 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer21.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter39
- Franchise loans10
- Franchise share of approvals19.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (8)
- Most active lenderTown and Country CU (17)
- 504 approvals recorded76
- 504 gross approval dollars$56.5 m
- Average 504 approval$743,500
- Median 504 approval$421,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval10.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.4
- Most active CDCDakota Business Lending (67)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$82.0 m
The average approval of $499,129 sits well above the median of $137,300, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 21.6 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.
Ward County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ward County
Do SBA loans in Ward County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full8
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure37
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Paid in full8
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 9 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.
Ward County
SBA lending by place in Ward County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Minot, approvals45
- Kenmare, approvals2
- Carpio, approvals1
- Surrey, approvals1
- Des Lacs, approvals1
- Minot AFB, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Minot | 45 | $22,963,300 |
| Kenmare | 2 | $2,235,000 |
| Carpio | 1 | $155,000 |
| Surrey | 1 | $50,100 |
| Des Lacs | 1 | $42,200 |
| Minot AFB | 1 | $10,000 |
Minot accounts for 45 approvals against 2 in Kenmare. 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.
Ward County
How large is Ward County?
- Land area2,013 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Dakota counties5th of 53
- Width, east to west58 mi
- Height, north to south66.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land34
- Establishments per square mile1.01
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.
Ward County
Flood risk in Ward County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Ward County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 385370
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP11
- NFIP participation rate91.7 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class7
- Radon levels in Ward 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 Ward County (community 385370), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Ward 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 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 91.7 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 Ward 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 Ward County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202468,973
- Households28,568
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$78,238
- Median age33.6
Common questions
Ward County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ward County, North Dakota?
The Census Bureau estimates 68,427 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 68,973, in 28,568 households, ranking 4th of 53 North Dakota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ward County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.14 percent since the 2020 census base of 69,922, to 68,427 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 957 births against 507 deaths, with net migration of -432. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ward County?
$78,238. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $267,100, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,048 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ward County?
2,043 establishments, employing 24,723 people with an annual payroll of $1.39 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 Ward County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,890 jobs, 15.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 31,358 jobs at an average annual pay of $60,491, or $1,163 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ward County?
51 7(a) approvals totaling $25.5 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $137,300, plus 76 504 approvals worth $56.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Ward County?
130 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $29.8 m. Multifamily was 15.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ward 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 Ward County come from?
The largest single origin is Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs, with 115 households. Arriving households report an average income of $53,833 against $58,962 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ward 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 Ward 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.
Ward County
Cities and places in Ward.
16 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ward County. All 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot | city | 47,791 | 45 | Wholly in this county |
| Minot AFB | CDP | 4,878 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Surrey | city | 1,721 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Burlington | city | 1,067 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kenmare | city | 1,002 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Berthold | city | 415 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sawyer | city | 353 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Carpio | city | 184 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Des Lacs | city | 163 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Ruthville | CDP | 104 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ryder | city | 100 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Douglas | city | 94 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Makoti | city | 84 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Donnybrook | city | 74 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Logan | CDP | 70 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Foxholm | CDP | 34 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |