Cost of Living in Barnes County, North Dakota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Barnes County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Barnes County ranks #1,299 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 41%)
Sourced county brief
Barnes County median monthly owner cost reaches $879
The median selected monthly owner cost in Barnes County is $879, which is $94 above the state unweighted county mean of $785. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 22.6%. This matches the North Dakota unweighted county mean of 22.6%. The median gross rent for renter-occupied units in the county was $779 per month, while the state unweighted county mean rent was $773. Homeowners faced a median home value of $173,700, falling below the state unweighted county mean of $175,787. Median renter-household income was recorded at $33,727, and the median household income across all residents was $68,038. These figures provide a snapshot of local housing costs during the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Barnes County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 22.6% of renter household income in Barnes County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $779 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $879. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Dakota unweighted mean of county median rents is $773 per month. Barnes County's $779 median is 0.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Barnes County
Rent Burden
13.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,588
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Barnes County
Median home value is $173,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,387 vs. your max of $1,588.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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