HomeNorth DakotaWilliams County
Williams County, North Dakota: commercial real estate data.
Williams County, North Dakota had an estimated 40,763 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 40,951, across 2,077 square miles. County output reached $7.47 bn in 2024, 1,652 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 46 7(a) approvals worth $27.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Williams County
How many people live in Williams County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202439,555
- Households15,154
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$85,595
- Median age31.8
- Median gross rent$1,123 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$284,800
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over24,541
- Population under 1811,934
- Share under 1830.2 percent
- Population 65 and over3,934
- Share 65 and over9.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6423,687
- Civilian labor force20,870
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over75.6 percent
- Rank by population among North Dakota counties5th of 53
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1220th of 3,222
Williams County is the 5th largest of 53 North Dakota counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 30.2 percent against 9.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Williams County
Is Williams County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202440,763
- Census 2020 base population40,951
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.46 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,459
- Births, 2024667
- Deaths, 2024251
- Natural change, 2024416
- Net domestic migration, 2024794
- Net international migration, 2024251
- Total net migration, 20241,045
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-2,514
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2005th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.46 percent of its population 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.
Williams County
Where are people moving to Williams County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,406
- People arriving, from those returns2,618
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,508
- Net household movement-102
- Adjusted gross income arriving$80.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-27.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$57,280
- Average income of a leaving household$71,606
- Largest single originMcKenzie County (65 households)
- Largest single destinationCass County (66 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKenzie County | 65 | 135 | $5.5 m |
| Ward County | 46 | 72 | $2.5 m |
| Burleigh County | 41 | 62 | $2.1 m |
| Richland County | 35 | 64 | $2.1 m |
| Stark County | 32 | 51 | $1.7 m |
| Mountrail County | 29 | 58 | $1.8 m |
| Kern County | 24 | 64 | $1.3 m |
| Cass County | 23 | 35 | $742,000 |
Households arriving report $14,326 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is McKenzie 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.
Williams County
What is the Williams County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.47 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.28 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.7 percent
- GDP change over five years67.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Dakota areas BEA publishes3rd of 53
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes556th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$188,917
Output grew 2.7 percent in the latest year and 67.3 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.
Williams County
Employment by industry in Williams County
- Covered employment, annual average27,125
- Establishments reporting2,228
- Average annual pay$91,464
- Average weekly wage$1,759
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, employment7,796
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, average annual pay$140,011
- Construction, employment2,477
- Construction, average annual pay$105,367
- Retail trade, employment2,354
- Retail trade, average annual pay$45,194
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,150
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$28,322
- Wholesale trade, employment1,736
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,692
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 7,796 | 237 | $140,011 |
| Construction | 2,477 | 236 | $105,367 |
| Retail trade | 2,354 | 142 | $45,194 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,150 | 140 | $28,322 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,736 | 188 | $95,220 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,692 | 181 | $97,646 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,576 | 132 | $59,394 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 814 | 112 | $72,542 |
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction is the largest private sector at 7,796 jobs, 28.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Williams County
How many businesses are in Williams County?
- Establishments, all industries1,652
- Employment at those establishments21,785
- Annual payroll$1.93 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents41.8
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.
Williams County
Building permits in Williams County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202490
- Declared construction value permitted$31.3 m
- Single family units authorized88
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units2.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$347,446
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.9
Single-family homes are 97.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Williams County
SBA loans in Williams County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded46
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$27.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$595,559
- Median 7(a) approval$197,450
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,584,650
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)429
- Jobs per approval9.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals32
- Median 7(a) term94 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter39
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals2.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countSupport Activities for Oil and Gas Operations (5)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (13)
- 504 approvals recorded86
- 504 gross approval dollars$58.9 m
- Average 504 approval$684,581
- Median 504 approval$391,500
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval11.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.2
- Most active CDCDakota Business Lending (48)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$86.3 m
The average approval of $595,559 sits well above the median of $197,450, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.9 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.
Williams County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Williams County
Do SBA loans in Williams County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded18
- Paid in full17
- Charged off1
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure21
- Status: Paid in full17
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Only 18 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.
Williams County
SBA lending by place in Williams County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Williston, approvals42
- Tioga, approvals2
- Grenora, approvals1
- Epping, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Williston | 42 | $24,869,700 |
| Tioga | 2 | $2,406,000 |
| Grenora | 1 | $95,000 |
| Epping | 1 | $25,000 |
Williston accounts for 42 approvals against 2 in Tioga. 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.
Williams County
How large is Williams County?
- Land area2,077 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Dakota counties4th of 53
- Width, east to west56.1 mi
- Height, north to south46.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land19
- Establishments per square mile0.80
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.
Williams County
Flood risk in Williams County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Williams County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 380146
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Williams 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 Williams County (community 380146), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Williams 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. 100.0 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 Williams 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 Williams County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202439,555
- Households15,154
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$85,595
- Median age31.8
Common questions
Williams County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Williams County, North Dakota?
The Census Bureau estimates 40,763 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 39,555, in 15,154 households, ranking 5th of 53 North Dakota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Williams County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.46 percent since the 2020 census base of 40,951, to 40,763 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 667 births against 251 deaths, with net migration of 1,045. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Williams County?
$85,595. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $284,800, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,123 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Williams County?
1,652 establishments, employing 21,785 people with an annual payroll of $1.93 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 Williams County?
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction is the largest private sector at 7,796 jobs, 28.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 27,125 jobs at an average annual pay of $91,464, or $1,759 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Williams County?
46 7(a) approvals totaling $27.4 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $197,450, plus 86 504 approvals worth $58.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Williams County?
90 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $31.3 m. Multifamily was 2.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Williams 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 Williams County come from?
The largest single origin is McKenzie County, with 65 households. Arriving households report an average income of $57,280 against $71,606 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Williams 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 Williams 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.
Williams County
Cities and places in Williams.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Williams County. All 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williston | city | 28,056 | 42 | Wholly in this county |
| Tioga | city | 1,657 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Ray | city | 714 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Grenora | city | 408 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Trenton | CDP | 406 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wildrose | city | 260 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Epping | city | 124 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| McGregor | CDP | 108 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Blacktail | CDP | 93 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Alamo | city | 47 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Long Creek | CDP | 38 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Springbrook | city | 27 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |