Cost of Living in Nelson 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 Nelson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Nelson County ranks #272 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 9%)
Sourced county brief
Nelson County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $582 Monthly
Nelson County's median gross rent is $582 per month, which is $191 lower than the North Dakota unweighted county mean of $773. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in the county is 17.6%, representing a 5.0 percentage point difference from the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 22.6%. The median home value is reported at $139,700, compared to the North Dakota unweighted county mean of $175,787. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $664, which is $121 below the state unweighted county mean of $785. The median income for renter households was $48,125. These snapshot figures are from the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. The canonical rent-to-income metric is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate of 17.6%. 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: Nelson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 17.6% of renter household income in Nelson 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 $582 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $664. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $23,280 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. Nelson County's $582 median is 24.7% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Nelson County
Rent Burden
10.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,568
per month
Owner Cost Burden
11.9%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Nelson County
Median home value is $139,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,115 vs. your max of $1,568.
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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