The Town Files

Ward County, North Dakota

68,973 people. The median home is worth $267,100 (typical North Dakota town: $167,950) and the median household earns $78,238.

Towns in Ward County

Towns in Ward County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Minot48,377$257,100$73,21933.5
Minot AFB5,017—$62,50022.6
Surrey1,357$315,800$106,43834.7
Burlington1,291$243,500$77,70831.1
Kenmare961$115,500$64,07756.9

People and housing

Ward CountyTypical North Dakota town
Median home value$267,100$167,950
Median rent$1,048$775
Median household income$78,238$68,195
Median age33.639.0
Bachelor's degree or higher29.6%23.0%
Below the poverty line8.6%10.6%

Jobs and pay

31,358 jobs in 2024, average pay $60,491 a year.

Largest industries in Ward CountyHealth care & social assistan…4,890 jobs · $69,827Retail4,648 jobs · $38,526Hotels & restaurants3,367 jobs · $23,156Construction2,031 jobs · $70,163Wholesale trade1,681 jobs · $85,349Mining, oil & gas1,513 jobs · $134,980
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Ward County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 2.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 455 storm events in Ward County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Ward County by type since 1996Hail248Flood10Tornado21High Wind5Lightning6Dust Storm2Heavy Rain6Flash Flood15Funnel Cloud17Thunderstorm Wind125
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Ward County has been included in 28 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 13, 2022Severe StormDR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding
April 1, 2020BiologicalDR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3477: Covid-19
August 19, 2014FloodDR-4190: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 12, 2013Severe StormDR-4128: Severe Storms And Flooding
May 20, 2011Severe StormDR-1986: Severe Winter Storm
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).