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McKenzie County, ND: population growth, jobs and income

McKenzie County gained 394 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+2.7%).

McKenzie County had an estimated 15,192 residents in 2025, up 2.8% (414 more people) since 2020. That is faster than North Dakota as a whole (+2.5%), and the 7th fastest growth of 51 counties in North Dakota.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the McKenzie County report

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

  • Median gross rent$1,284/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes22.6%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months302025-10/2026-09
  • 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

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration added 217 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.

Private employers had 6,861 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +5.2% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 2.5% in 2025, 0.7 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 40 new homes in 2025, or 2.6 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $93,404 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +24.1% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,046th.

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McKenzie County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
202515,192+394
202414,798+525
202314,273+380
202213,893+35
202113,858−920
202014,778–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in McKenzie County

McKenzie County grew by 414 people since 2020 even though 361 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: births outnumbered deaths by 752, and net international migration added 85.

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths+182+752
International migrationfrom and to other countries−4+85
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties+217−361
Census adjustmentbalancing residual−1−62
Total change+394+414

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 growth7th of 511,046th of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents6th of 52290th of 3,108
Private-sector job growth10th of 521,189th of 3,092
Median household income2nd of 52245th of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate18th of 52139th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents15th of 521,255th 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 McKenzie 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

Over 2020–25, McKenzie County's population change (+2.8%) was ahead of 5 of its 6 neighbouring counties with a comparable figure and behind 1 (Golden Valley County).

Only Dunn County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 8 neighbouring counties; McKenzie County's was $93,404.

McKenzie County, ND and its 8 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
McKenzie County, ND This county15,192+2.8%14.32.6$93,404
Williams County, ND41,767+1.4%8.43.5$85,595
Dunn County, ND4,058−0.9%14.34.4$97,689
Billings County, ND1,071–14.94.7$86,806
Golden Valley County, ND1,808+4.8%20.51.1$68,021
Mountrail County, ND9,395−4.2%−16.42.4$80,717
Wibaux County, MT885–––$67,462
Richland County, MT11,377−1.3%22.80.1$73,084
Roosevelt County, MT10,242−5.2%−0.10.0$57,063

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 McKenzie County growing?

Yes. Its population grew 2.8% between 2020 and 2025, about 414 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). North Dakota as a whole changed +2.5% over the same years. That ranks 7th of 51 counties in North Dakota for population growth.

How many people moved to McKenzie County?

On net, about 217 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in McKenzie County?

It averaged 2.5% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of McKenzie County?

About 15,192 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in McKenzie County?

Private employers there had 6,861 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +5.2% 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.

McKenzie County data alerts

Email me when McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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.