by Kristen Carney
Updated: June 20, 2024
The richest city in North Dakota is Calio in Cavalier County with an average household income of $454,467 as of 2022. While exceptionally affluent, Calio only has a population of 5 as of 2023. The richest city in North Dakota with at least 5,000 people is Horace in Cass County with an average household income of $188,124 as of 2022 and 5,643 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).
Rank | City | County | Population | Average Income | Median Income |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Calio | Cavalier | 5 | $454,467 | $208,750 |
2 | Briarwood | Cass | 53 | $358,967 | $153,750 |
3 | Reile's Acres | Cass | 841 | $273,274 | $202,500 |
4 | Springbrook | Williams | 32 | $211,291 | -$1 |
5 | Spiritwood Lake | Stutsman | 92 | $207,673 | $188,000 |
6 | Oxbow | Cass | 371 | $201,348 | $161,250 |
7 | Harwood | Cass | 827 | $200,254 | $139,750 |
8 | Horace | Cass | 5,643 | $188,124 | $146,184 |
9 | Brooktree Park | Cass | 156 | $184,962 | $191,118 |
10 | Erie | Cass | 47 | $171,731 | $136,250 |
11 | Argusville | Cass | 474 | $161,674 | $153,516 |
12 | Cayuga | Sargent | 38 | $143,356 | $81,250 |
13 | Perth | Towner | 5 | $141,029 | $158,125 |
14 | South Heart | Stark | 403 | $139,895 | $133,281 |
15 | Frontier | Cass | 193 | $137,865 | $116,250 |
16 | Sharon | Steele | 85 | $137,644 | -$1 |
17 | Arnegard | McKenzie | 272 | $135,978 | $111,313 |
18 | Powers Lake | Burke | 375 | $135,905 | $78,750 |
19 | Milton | Cavalier | 40 | $132,847 | $101,875 |
20 | Dwight | Richland | 78 | $129,212 | $136,250 |
We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:
Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.
Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000
The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.
So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.
If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.
The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.
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United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 07 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
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