The Town Files

McKenzie County, North Dakota

14,321 people. The median home is worth $349,600 (typical North Dakota town: $167,950) and the median household earns $93,404.

Towns in McKenzie County

Towns in McKenzie County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Watford City6,207$408,500$102,26028.8
Mandaree691$170,300$64,5459.7
Four Bears Village500——48.4

People and housing

McKenzie CountyTypical North Dakota town
Median home value$349,600$167,950
Median rent$1,284$775
Median household income$93,404$68,195
Median age31.539.0
Bachelor's degree or higher19.1%23.0%
Below the poverty line12.0%10.6%

Jobs and pay

11,484 jobs in 2024, average pay $90,997 a year.

Largest industries in McKenzie CountyMining, oil & gas2,031 jobs · $129,141Transportation & warehousing1,352 jobs · $128,388Retail649 jobs · $38,379Wholesale trade561 jobs · $116,124Professional & technical serv…365 jobs · $100,013Real estate338 jobs · $116,828
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in McKenzie County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 1.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 545 storm events in McKenzie County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.

Storm events in McKenzie County by type since 1996Hail180Flood8Drought26Tornado14Blizzard36High Wind58Heavy Snow19Funnel Cloud15Winter Storm30Cold/Wind Chill8
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

McKenzie County has been included in 24 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
December 24, 2024FireDR-4852: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds
October 6, 2024FireFM-5540: Bear Den Fire
October 6, 2024FireFM-5541: Elk Horn Fire
July 13, 2022Severe StormDR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding
September 1, 2021Severe StormDR-4613: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
October 2, 2020Severe StormDR-4565: 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).