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Which counties in North Dakota are building the most new homes?

Emmons County (8.7 per 1,000 residents), Cass County (5.7 per 1,000 residents) and Billings County (4.7 per 1,000 residents) permitted the most new homes for their size in North Dakota in 2025.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 52 ranked North Dakota counties

North Dakota counties ranked by new homes permitted per 1,000 residents
RankCountyPer 1,000 residents, 2025Homes permitted 2025Residents
1Emmons County8.7283,215
2Cass County5.71,154201,794
3Billings County4.751,071
4Dunn County4.4184,058
5Dickey County4.3214,895
6Oliver County4.281,898
7McLean County4.1409,740
8Grant County3.682,206
9Williams County3.514541,767
10Sheridan County3.141,296
11Burleigh County2.9303103,251
12Bowman County2.982,762
13Morton County2.910034,601
14Burke County2.862,132
15McKenzie County2.64015,192
16Richland County2.64416,731
17Grand Forks County2.518674,501
18Mountrail County2.4239,395
19McHenry County2.3125,130
20Bottineau County2.2146,284
21Stark County1.96534,013
22Ward County1.912868,233
23Nelson County1.342,963
24Stutsman County1.32721,414
25Steele County1.121,797
26Golden Valley County1.121,808
27Traill County0.977,920
28Sargent County0.833,711
29Foster County0.623,212
30Cavalier County0.623,497
31Logan County0.511,859
32Pierce County0.523,838
33Ramsey County0.5611,530
34Walsh County0.5510,179
35LaMoure County0.524,135
36Adams County0.412,275
37Renville County0.412,331
38McIntosh County0.412,451
39Barnes County0.4410,573
40Ransom County0.425,617
41Mercer County0.438,441
42Pembina County0.326,568
43Wells County0.313,729
44Towner County0.002,040
45Sioux County0.003,667
46Rolette County0.0011,688
47Kidder County0.002,393
48Hettinger County0.002,492
49Griggs County0.002,239
50Eddy County0.002,329
51Divide County0.002,110
52Benson County0.005,759

1 of 53 North Dakota counties are not ranked on this measure.

How this is ranked

Housing units authorized by building permits in 2025 (Census Bureau Building Permits Survey), per 1,000 residents. Permits count homes authorized, not finished. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are not ranked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in North Dakota is building the most new homes?

Emmons County: 8.7 per 1,000 residents, ahead of Cass County (5.7 per 1,000 residents) and Billings County (4.7 per 1,000 residents), of 52 North Dakota counties ranked.

How is this ranking calculated?

Housing units authorized by building permits in 2025 (Census Bureau Building Permits Survey), per 1,000 residents. Permits count homes authorized, not finished. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are not ranked.

More county rankings for North Dakota

New homes permitted per 1,000 residents in other states

Across the U.S.