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McHenry County, ND: population growth, jobs and income

McHenry County lost 23 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.4%).

McHenry County had an estimated 5,130 residents in 2025, down 3.9% (206 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than North Dakota as a whole (+2.5%), and the 42nd fastest growth of 51 counties in North Dakota.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the McHenry County report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for McHenry County, ranked against North Dakota and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$713/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes20.8%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months172025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

New homes permitted

12

2025

2.3 per 1,000 residents

Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 22 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.

Private employers had 740 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 3.8% in 2025, 0.3 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 12 new homes in 2025, or 2.3 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $80,733 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +20.4% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,808th.

Part of the Minot, ND metro area.

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McHenry County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
20255,130−23
20245,153−13
20235,166−59
20225,225−16
20215,241−95
20205,336–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in McHenry County

McHenry County lost 206 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−170).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths+0−39
International migrationfrom and to other countries+0+8
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties−22−170
Census adjustmentbalancing residual−1−5
Total change−23−206

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn North DakotaAmong U.S. counties
Population growth42nd of 512,808th of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents36th of 522,487th of 3,108
Private-sector job growth36th of 522,699th of 3,092
Median household income14th of 52548th of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate47th of 521,324th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents19th of 521,383rd of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

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The County Growth and Demographics Report for McHenry County, ND as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

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Neighbouring counties

McHenry County lost population faster than all 6 of its neighbouring counties (−3.9%, 2020–25).

2 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than McHenry County's $80,733 (2020–24).

McHenry County, ND and its 6 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
McHenry County, ND This county5,130−3.9%−4.32.3$80,733
Bottineau County, ND6,284−1.6%−8.62.2$85,000
Pierce County, ND3,838−3.6%−5.50.5$59,365
Sheridan County, ND1,296+2.7%14.73.1$62,639
Ward County, ND68,233−2.4%−8.11.9$78,238
McLean County, ND9,740−0.2%−3.14.1$83,583
Renville County, ND2,331+2.9%−6.00.4$74,301

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 53 North Dakota counties · Every state

Questions

Is McHenry County growing?

No. Its population fell 3.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 206 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). North Dakota as a whole changed +2.5% over the same years. That ranks 42nd of 51 counties in North Dakota for population growth.

How many people moved to McHenry County?

On net, none in 2025: about 22 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in McHenry County?

It averaged 3.8% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of McHenry County?

About 5,130 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in McHenry County?

Private employers there had 740 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in North Dakota

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other North Dakota county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

McHenry County data alerts

Email me when McHenry County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for McHenry County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.