Cost of Living in Foster 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 Foster County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Foster County ranks #965 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 31%)
Sourced county brief
Foster County Official GRAPI Reaches 35.6 Percent
Foster County's official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was estimated at 35.6%. This official figure is 13.0 percentage points higher than the North Dakota unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 22.6%. The median gross rent in the county was $780 per month, which differs from the state unweighted county mean of $773. The median home value was $167,500, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $175,787. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $764, while the state unweighted county mean for owner costs was $785. Median renter-household income data was not available for this period. These findings represent a snapshot of county housing costs. 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: Foster County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.6% of renter household income in Foster County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $780 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $764. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,200 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. Foster County's $780 median is 0.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Foster County
Rent Burden
10.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,049
per month
Owner Cost Burden
10.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Foster County
Median home value is $167,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,337 vs. your max of $2,049.
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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