In Burleigh County, North Dakota, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Burleigh County, 14.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 98% of U.S. counties.
What drives Burleigh County's score
In Burleigh County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 24.1. Jobs are the lowest part, at 3.9. Unemployment averaged 2.2%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026, lower than in 97% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Burleigh County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Burleigh County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 24.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent17.6% · 2020 to 202447th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income14.0% · fiscal year 20271st percentile
-
- 18.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector12.8% · August 202510th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people82 · 202526th percentile
-
- 10.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line8.1% · 20248th percentile
- Children below the poverty line7.9% · 20245th percentile
- People with a disability12.0% · 2020 to 202414th percentile
- People without health insurance4.5% · 2020 to 202413th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$91,254 · 20249th percentile
-
- 8.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.0% · August 202510th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.6% · August 202510th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score26.4% · second quarter of 20265th percentile
-
- 3.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20262nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working11.8% · 2020 to 20245th percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Burleigh County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Burleigh County, 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Burleigh County
North Dakota
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Burleigh County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 14.5% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Burleigh County, North Dakota, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 14.5%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Burleigh County getting SNAP food aid rose most sharply after its 2019 low, from 4.8% in 2019 to 6.0% in 2020.
The share of households in Burleigh County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2010 and has since fallen to 5.8%
Low on the chart: 4.8% in 2019. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Burleigh County, North Dakota.
How Burleigh County has changed
Burleigh County's population had its largest rise, from 80,122 in 2009 to 91,532 in 2014.
Burleigh County's population more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 103,107, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1984 to 1989, reaching 59,751. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Burleigh County, North Dakota.
The number of jobs located in Burleigh County made its largest gain on the way to its 2015 high, from 50,937 in 2010 to 58,461 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Burleigh County doubled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 58,393
High on the chart: 58,461 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Burleigh County, North Dakota.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.9% | 2025 2.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.0% | 2024 8.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,278 | 2024 $91,254 |
The table uses 2.4% for 2025; the score uses 2.2% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Burleigh County's history
1873
January 4, 1873 (created) July 16, 1873 (organized). Wikipedia
2001
Hail in June 2001 did $113 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2005
Hail in July 2005 did $93 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in June 2011 did $20 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
Hail in June 2016 did $50 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 98,458, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
-
Since 1969
22 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Burleigh County, 15 of them for flooding. FEMA
Burleigh County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Burleigh County, five score higher. Of the group, Burleigh County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Sheridan County gets the largest, at 30.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheridan County, ND | 16 | 15.5% | 30.4% |
| Emmons County, ND | 14 | 14.0% | 27.8% |
| Kidder County, ND | 8 | 13.9% | 22.3% |
| Morton County, ND | 7 | 9.2% | 17.6% |
| Oliver County, ND | 2 | 11.8% | 21.5% |
| Burleigh County, ND | 1 | 8.1% | 14.5% |
| McLean County, ND | 0 | 10.8% | 22.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Burleigh County the poorest county in North Dakota?
No, Burleigh County's poverty rate was 8.1% in 2024, 49th highest of 53 in North Dakota (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Sioux County, at 29.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Burleigh County ranks 49th of 53 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Burleigh County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Legal Services of North Dakota
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Burleigh County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Burleigh County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.