The Town Files

Benson County, North Dakota

5,808 people. The median home is worth $90,000 (typical North Dakota town: $167,950) and the median household earns $64,033.

Towns in Benson County

Towns in Benson County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Fort Totten1,160—$20,25013.0

People and housing

Benson CountyTypical North Dakota town
Median home value$90,000$167,950
Median rent$588$775
Median household income$64,033$68,195
Median age32.639.0
Bachelor's degree or higher21.9%23.0%
Below the poverty line25.6%10.6%

Jobs and pay

1,973 jobs in 2024, average pay $53,294 a year.

Largest industries in Benson CountyWholesale trade116 jobs · $85,100Construction103 jobs · $88,797Health care & social assistan…75 jobs · $22,139Transportation & warehousing14 jobs · $68,397Retail12 jobs · $19,845Professional & technical serv…5 jobs · $93,729
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Benson County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 788 storm events in Benson County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Benson County by type since 1996Hail260Flood44Tornado36Blizzard60High Wind41Heavy Snow28Flash Flood21Frost/Freeze6Winter Storm50Cold/Wind Chill18
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Benson County has been included in 31 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
October 2, 2020Severe StormDR-4565: Severe Storms And Flooding
April 1, 2020BiologicalDR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3477: Covid-19
July 12, 2017FloodDR-4323: Flooding
August 19, 2014FloodDR-4190: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 12, 2013Severe StormDR-4128: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).