Market rankings · North Dakota
Child care centers and preschools in North Dakota
Markets across North Dakota ranked by the Groundwork market score for child care centers and preschools, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 204
- 13 chain locations (6%)
- Official establishments
- 374
- +19.5% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $139.9M
- On child care and other personal services
- Listings per 10k households
- 6.2
- 7% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $686K
- 32% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #49 of 51
- Market score 20 · Low
A site report maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings around any address in North Dakota by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
As of September 2026, map listings count 204 child care centers and preschools in North Dakota. Of those, 13 are chain locations, or 6%, against 12% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 6.2, 7% above the U.S. rate of 5.8.
Households in North Dakota spend about $139.9M a year on child care and other personal services, or $423 per household, 27% below the U.S. average. That is about $686K of household spending for each center on map listings, 32% below the U.S. figure of $1M.
In 2023, official counts showed 374 businesses with payroll in North Dakota classed as child care services, up 19.5% from 2019. That is one for every 885 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.7% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 9 SBA-backed loans worth $1.8M have gone to businesses classed as child care services in North Dakota.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Dakota ranks #49 for child care centers and preschools, with a Groundwork market score of 20 (low). Of the 4 scored metro areas in or partly in North Dakota, the Bismarck metro area scores highest (45). Of the 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Dakota, the Williston area scores highest (46).
Every market in North Dakota for child care centers and preschools
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in North Dakota, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Bismarck, ND | 45 | 28 | 5.0 | $913K | +4.5% | #233 of 387 |
| 2Fargo, ND-MN | 35 | 64 | 5.8 | $739K | +7.7% | #292 of 387 |
| 3Grand Forks, ND-MN | 32 | 20 | 4.6 | $842K | +0.8% | #314 of 387 |
| 4Minot, ND | 13 | 22 | 6.9 | $615K | −2.4% | #380 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Williston, ND | 46 | 10 | 6.6 | $747K | +1.4% | #265 of 454 |
| 2Dickinson, ND | 31 | 14 | 9.0 | $479K | +0.7% | #374 of 454 |
| 3Wahpeton, ND-MN | 24 | 9 | 9.5 | $416K | 0.0% | #410 of 454 |
| 4Jamestown, ND | 22 | 7 | 7.4 | $493K | −0.6% | #419 of 454 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Morton County, ND | 54 | 6 | 4.3 | $953K | +3.8% | #716 of 1,611 |
| 2Burleigh County, ND | 50 | 22 | 5.3 | $887K | +4.7% | #821 of 1,611 |
| 3Grand Forks County, ND | 48 | 12 | 3.8 | $997K | +1.9% | #868 of 1,611 |
| 4Cass County, ND | 40 | 56 | 6.7 | $642K | +9.1% | #1,109 of 1,611 |
| 5Williams County, ND | 37 | 10 | 6.6 | $747K | +1.4% | #1,161 of 1,611 |
| 6Ward County, ND | 24 | 20 | 7.0 | $613K | −2.4% | #1,425 of 1,611 |
| 7Stark County, ND | 20 | 14 | 10.3 | $404K | +0.5% | #1,487 of 1,611 |
| 8Richland County, ND | 20 | 7 | 10.2 | $402K | +1.2% | #1,488 of 1,611 |
| 9Stutsman County, ND | 16 | 7 | 7.4 | $493K | −0.6% | #1,537 of 1,611 |
| 10Rolette County, ND | 6 | 6 | 15.9 | $227K | −4.1% | #1,600 of 1,611 |
| McKenzie County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $3.3M | +2.8% | |
| Ramsey County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $643K | −0.4% | |
| Barnes County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $593K | −2.7% | |
| Walsh County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 6.8 | $532K | −3.3% | |
| McLean County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 2.3 | $1.8M | −0.2% | |
| Mountrail County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 7.7 | $577K | −4.2% | |
| Mercer County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 5.6 | $742K | +1.1% | |
| Traill County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.8% | |
| Pembina County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.8% | |
| Bottineau County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 11.2 | $395K | −1.6% | |
| Benson County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 9.9 | $374K | −3.0% | |
| Ransom County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 12.8 | $289K | −1.5% | |
| McHenry County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 4.5 | $896K | −3.9% | |
| Dickey County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 10.2 | $386K | −1.5% | |
| LaMoure County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 5.7 | $659K | +1.0% |
Show all 53 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunn County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.9% | |
| Pierce County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 5.4 | $625K | −3.6% | |
| Wells County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 11.2 | $332K | −5.9% | |
| Sargent County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 11.4 | $344K | −3.4% | |
| Sioux County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.4% | |
| Cavalier County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.4% | |
| Foster County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 13.1 | $361K | −5.1% | |
| Emmons County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 6.5 | $543K | −2.4% | |
| Nelson County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 7.5 | $495K | −1.0% | |
| Bowman County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 23.2 | $156K | −7.1% | |
| McIntosh County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.5% | |
| Hettinger County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 8.8 | $424K | +0.4% | |
| Kidder County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +0.5% | |
| Eddy County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 8.5 | $370K | +0.1% | |
| Renville County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 10.3 | $380K | +2.9% | |
| Grant County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.5% | |
| Griggs County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.5% | |
| Divide County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.2% | |
| Burke County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.7% | |
| Adams County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +3.7% | |
| Towner County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.0% | |
| Oliver County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.7% | |
| Logan County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.3% | |
| Steele County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 12.4 | $354K | −0.1% | |
| Golden Valley County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +4.8% | |
| Sheridan County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.7% | |
| Billings County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +15.2% | |
| Slope County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −9.9% |
Markets with fewer than 5 child care centers and preschools on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many child care centers and preschools are in North Dakota?
North Dakota has 204 child care centers and preschools on map listings as of September 2026. 13 of them (6%) are chain locations. The listings count day care centers and preschools. Official counts show 374 businesses with payroll classed as child care services in 2023, up 19.5% from 2019. Another 1,973 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in North Dakota spend on child care and other personal services?
About $139.9M a year, or $423 per household. That is 27% below the U.S. average (an index of 73, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 204 child care centers and preschools on map listings, it comes to $686K per center. It is estimated from the incomes of the 331,063 households in North Dakota and national spending patterns by income.
How does North Dakota compare with the U.S. for child care centers and preschools?
North Dakota has 6.2 child care centers and preschools per 10,000 households, 7% above the U.S. rate of 5.8. Spending per center is $686K, 32% below the U.S. figure of $1M. At the national ratio of child care centers and preschools to household spending, North Dakota would have about 140, against 204 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 885 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. The official count rose 19.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.7% for the U.S.
Which market in North Dakota has the highest market score for child care centers and preschools?
Among 4 scored metro areas in or partly in North Dakota, the Bismarck metro area scores highest, at 45 (lower middle). Among 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Dakota, the Williston area scores highest, at 46 (lower middle). Among 10 scored counties in North Dakota, Morton County scores highest, at 54 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. North Dakota scores 20 for child care centers and preschools (low), #49 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in North Dakota. It maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Child care and preschools in other states
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Top markets for child care centers and preschools across the U.S. · All business types in North Dakota
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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.