County profile · North Dakota
Ward County, ND market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Ward County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 68,233
- −2.4% since 2020
- Households
- 28,568
- Median household income
- $78,238
- +13.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $267,100
- Jobs located here
- 30,323
- Highest market score
- 78
- Primary care and pediatrics, #104 of 1,656 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Ward County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Ward County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
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
An estimated 68,233 people live in Ward County, in 28,568 households. Population estimates show Ward County declined 2.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Ward County is $78,238 a year, 3% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 13.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Ward County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (74).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Ward County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (78), veterinarians (69) and grocery stores (68). Ward County ranks #104 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
Ward County is part of the Minot metro area. For its number of households, Ward County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for collision repair and body shops (94% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for grocery stores (32% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Ward County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Ward County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care and pediatrics | 78 | #104 of 1,656 | 9 | 3.2 | $4.6M | 257 | 11 |
| Veterinarians | 69 | #294 of 1,485 | 5 | 1.8 | $5M | 182 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 68 | #451 of 2,070 | 13 | 4.6 | $13.5M | 145 | 9 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 62 | #726 of 2,402 | 60 | 21.0 | $2.9M | 86 | 9 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 58 | #820 of 2,405 | 141 | 49.4 | $807K | 122 | 41 |
| Physical therapy | 56 | #559 of 1,422 | 17 | 6.0 | $2.4M | 101 | 8 |
| Barbershops | 55 | #564 of 1,356 | 12 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 128 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 53 | #698 of 1,530 | 13 | 4.6 | $2.5M | 98 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 51 | #1,122 of 2,394 | 176 | 61.6 | $234K | 154 | 82 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 50 | #698 of 1,493 | 13 | 4.6 | $2.8M | 95 | 21 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 50 | #925 of 1,886 | 29 | 10.2 | $1.4M | 145 | 27 |
| Roofing and gutters | 49 | #613 of 1,177 | 9 | 3.2 | $8.9M | 105 | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 49 | #695 of 1,302 | 12 | 4.2 | $3.4M | 110 | 7 |
| Nail salons | 49 | #723 of 1,328 | 14 | 4.9 | $2.1M | 124 | 7 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 49 | #946 of 1,889 | 20 | 7.0 | $5.7M | 137 | 24 |
| Pet businesses | 49 | #1,130 of 2,200 | 31 | 10.9 | $799K | 91 | 17 |
| Pet stores | 48 | #512 of 974 | 5 | 1.8 | $5M | 109 | 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 46 | #773 of 1,334 | 11 | 3.9 | $2.4M | 121 | 15 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 46 | #983 of 1,707 | 17 | 6.0 | $4.7M | 99 | 28 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 46 | #1,342 of 2,405 | 289 | 101.2 | $394K | 106 | 125 |
| Hair salons | 45 | #1,427 of 2,339 | 67 | 23.5 | $433K | 101 | 17 |
| Convenience stores | 44 | #1,333 of 2,261 | 33 | 11.6 | $5.3M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 41 | #1,446 of 2,088 | 40 | 14.0 | $672K | 102 | 24 |
| Spas and skin care | 40 | #1,236 of 1,769 | 28 | 9.8 | $1M | 118 | 9 |
| Gyms | 39 | #1,265 of 1,792 | 28 | 9.8 | $961K | 74 | 9 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 39 | #1,421 of 2,063 | 30 | 10.5 | $3.8M | 102 | 24 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 38 | #1,566 of 2,222 | 47 | 16.5 | $2.4M | 79 | 59 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 38 | #1,808 of 2,385 | 125 | 43.8 | $232K | 109 | 35 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 37 | #1,339 of 1,771 | 24 | 8.4 | $1.5M | 89 | 44 |
| Gas stations | 36 | #1,752 of 2,358 | 50 | 17.5 | $1.6M | 67 | 32 |
| Pizza | 35 | #1,632 of 2,090 | 36 | 12.6 | $3.2M | 62 | 59 |
| Home repair trades | 33 | #1,753 of 2,057 | 38 | 13.3 | $2.1M | 87 | 71 |
| Auto repair shops | 33 | #1,910 of 2,378 | 81 | 28.4 | $395K | 89 | 45 |
| Auto repair and car care | 33 | #1,912 of 2,401 | 135 | 47.3 | $237K | 88 | 61 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 32 | #1,959 of 2,176 | 63 | 22.1 | Index only | 119 | 34 |
| Real estate | 30 | #2,061 of 2,229 | 82 | 28.7 | Index only | 115 | 58 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 29 | #1,205 of 1,461 | 18 | 6.3 | $1.4M | 54 | 8 |
| Car washes and detailing | 27 | #1,267 of 1,451 | 19 | 6.7 | $1.7M | 67 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 27 | #1,922 of 2,210 | 83 | 29.1 | $694K | 79 | 39 |
| Chiropractors | 26 | #1,346 of 1,490 | 26 | 9.1 | $1.6M | 66 | 29 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 26 | #1,812 of 2,087 | 66 | 23.1 | $873K | 69 | 39 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 25 | #1,188 of 1,327 | 17 | 6.0 | $1.9M | 61 | 14 |
| Property management | 24 | #849 of 910 | 13 | 4.6 | Index only | 57 | 14 |
| Child care and preschools | 24 | #1,425 of 1,611 | 20 | 7.0 | $613K | 61 | 27 |
| Electricians | 21 | #1,089 of 1,160 | 12 | 4.2 | $6.7M | 56 | 37 |
| House cleaning | 20 | #819 of 847 | 8 | 2.8 | $4.5M | 70 | 23 |
| Insurance agencies | 19 | #2,085 of 2,272 | 40 | 14.0 | $1.2M | 97 | 50 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.4 | $14.4M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.4 | Index only | 263 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $1.1M | 169 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $10.7M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $12M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $57.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $26.9M | Too few | 9 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Ward County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $32M | $1,121 | 117 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $80.3M | $2,810 | 108 |
| Food away from home | $113.9M | $3,985 | 98 |
| Groceries | $175.2M | $6,133 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $29M | $1,016 | 101 |
| Child care and other personal services | $12.3M | $429 | 74 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $26.9M | $942 | 96 |
| Medical and dental services | $41.3M | $1,445 | 112 |
| Pets | $24.8M | $867 | 95 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $57.6M | $2,018 | 98 |
| Vehicle insurance | $48.6M | $1,701 | 87 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $80.2M | $2,807 | 93 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $36M | $1,262 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $409.9M | $14,350 | 86 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Ward County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 68,233−2.4% since 2020
- Households
- 28,568
- Median age
- 35.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 61%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 2,013 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 34
- Median household income
- $78,238+13.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $102,307
- Median home value
- $267,100
- Jobs located here
- 30,323
- Daytime population
- 68,012Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Ward County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Ward County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Dakota 8
- McHenry County, ND5,207 people
- Renville County, ND2,304 people
- Mountrail County, ND9,507 people
- Bottineau County, ND6,378 people
- McLean County, ND9,823 people
- Pierce County, ND3,928 people
- Sheridan County, ND1,303 people
- Burke County, ND2,156 people
Questions
How fast is Ward County, ND growing?
Population estimates put Ward County at 68,233 people in 2025, down 2.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 28,568 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 13.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Ward County, ND spend?
Households in Ward County spend about $409.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $175.2M on groceries and $113.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Ward County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (74).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Ward County, ND?
Of the business types scored in Ward County, primary care and pediatric clinics (78), veterinarians (69) and grocery stores (68) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #104 of 1,656 scored counties.
How does Ward County, ND compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Ward County is $78,238, 3% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $267,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for collision repair and body shops (94% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for grocery stores (32% below the U.S. rate).
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. 47 of the 56 business types have a score in Ward County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Ward County. It maps the competitors 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.
All markets in North Dakota · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Ward County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Ward County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
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.