In McLean County, North Dakota, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In McLean County, 14.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 97% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 99% of U.S. counties.
What drives McLean County's score
In McLean County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 19.4. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 5.0. About one in 40 renters (2.5%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in McLean 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.
McLean 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.
- 19.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.8% · 202429th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.8% · 202421st percentile
- People with a disability12.2% · 2020 to 202416th percentile
- People without health insurance4.4% · 2020 to 202412th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,639 · 202417th percentile
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- 8.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.2% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.1% · August 202516th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score25.4% · second quarter of 20265th or lower percentile
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- 6.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th or lower percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working12.5% · 2020 to 20247th percentile
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- 5.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector9.8% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people40.7 · 20256th percentile
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- 5.0 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent2.5% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income14.9% · fiscal year 20275th or lower percentile
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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 McLean 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 McLean County, 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
McLean County
North Dakota
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In McLean County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 22.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In McLean County, North Dakota, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 22.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in McLean County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 2.9% in 2022 to 4.1% in 2023.
The share of households in McLean County getting SNAP food aid fell by about a fifth from 2009 to 2024, reaching 3.8%, with its low point on the chart in 2021
Low on the chart: 2.8% in 2021. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, McLean County, North Dakota.
How McLean County has changed
McLean County's population had its largest drop, from 12,525 in 1984 to 10,807 in 1989.
McLean County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 12,525 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, McLean County, North Dakota.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in McLean County rose 29% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 2005 and 2010
High on the chart: 3,541 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, McLean County, North Dakota.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.7% | 2025 2.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.0% | 2024 10.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,848 | 2024 $81,639 |
The table uses 2.9% for 2025; the score uses 2.4% 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 McLean County's history
1805
Fort Mandan was winter quarters of Lewis and Clark Expedition 1804–1805, located near present Washburn. Wikipedia
1883
March 8, 1883 (created) November 1, 1883 (organized). Wikipedia
1950
The county's largest recorded population was the 1950 Census count of 18,824. The 2020 Census counted 9,771, 52% of the peak. Census Bureau
2006
A thunderstorm in July 2006 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in June 2011 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A thunderstorm in June 2018 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1966
24 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered McLean County, 15 of them for flooding. FEMA
McLean County beside its neighbors
All eight counties that border McLean County score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, McLean County ranks 3rd of the nine; Sheridan County is highest, at 30.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountrail County, ND | 34 | 11.7% | 13.7% |
| Sheridan County, ND | 16 | 15.5% | 30.4% |
| Ward County, ND | 14 | 10.7% | 15.5% |
| McHenry County, ND | 6 | 11.7% | 22.7% |
| Mercer County, ND | 5 | 8.1% | 20.7% |
| Dunn County, ND | 3 | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 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 McLean County the poorest county in North Dakota?
No, McLean County's poverty rate was 10.8% in 2024, 30th 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, McLean County ranks 53rd of 53 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in McLean 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.
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Legal Services of North Dakota
Legal aid
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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 McLean 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 McLean County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.