Grand Forks County, North Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 33.2 | 72,708 people · 18th most distressed in North Dakota
American Default Research

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Grand Forks County, ND ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 33.2 — 2749th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within North Dakota, it ranks 18th of 53 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Grand Forks County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 68
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 98
Rent-to-Income Ratio 20
Employment & Wages 35.0
Unemployment Rate 2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 20
Business Formation Rate 83
Income & Poverty 33.9
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 9
Debt & Delinquency 23.3
Debt in Collections 19
Medical Debt 35
Student Loan Delinquency 11
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 18
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38
Community Vulnerability 10.1
Uninsured Rate 16
Disability Rate 4

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Grand Forks County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Grand Forks County
Grand Forks County, ND 33.2 Healthy —
Polk County, MN 39.5 Normal +6.3
Walsh County, ND 31.5 Healthy -1.6
Nelson County, ND 26.2 Healthy -7.0
Marshall County, MN 25.7 Healthy -7.5
Traill County, ND 18.8 Healthy -14.3
Steele County, ND 16.7 Healthy -16.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Grand Forks County
Winnebago County, WI 33.2 Healthy +0.0
Washington County, PA 33.1 Healthy -0.0
Bristol County, RI 33.1 Healthy -0.1
Stafford County, VA 33.3 Healthy +0.2
Scott County, KY 33.4 Healthy +0.3

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Grand Forks County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Grand Forks County

Find an Attorney

State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service 701-255-1404

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Grand Forks County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of North Dakota 1-800-634-5263

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Grand Forks County, North Dakota?

    Grand Forks County has a County Distress Index score of 33.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,749th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in North Dakota out of 53 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grand Forks County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grand Forks County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Grand Forks County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grand Forks County (33.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Polk County, MN (39.5); Walsh County, ND (31.5); Nelson County, ND (26.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Grand Forks County?

    Grand Forks County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 72,708 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.