Cost of Living in McKenzie 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 McKenzie County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
McKenzie County ranks #2,587 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 18%)
Sourced county brief
McKenzie County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,284 Per Month
McKenzie County's median gross rent is $1,284 per month, an amount $511 higher than the North Dakota unweighted county mean of $773. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 18.0%, which is 4.6 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 22.6%. The median home value in the county was estimated at $349,600, compared to the North Dakota unweighted county mean of $175,787. Median selected monthly owner costs for all households were $1,142, while the state unweighted county mean for owner costs is $785. The median income for renter households was reported at $83,781. These statistics are based on the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. The canonical affordability metric for this county is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI of 18.0%. 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: McKenzie County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 18.0% of renter household income in McKenzie 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 $1,284 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,142. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $51,360 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. McKenzie County's $1,284 median is 66.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in McKenzie County
Rent Burden
16.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,179
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.7%
of gross income
The median home in McKenzie County may be a stretch
Median home value is $349,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,791 vs. your max of $2,179.
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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