About nine in ten adults aged 25 to 54 in Morton County, North Dakota, have a job
In Morton County, 9.3% of adults aged 25 to 54 were not working. That is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 92% of U.S. counties.
What drives Morton County's score
In Morton County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 47.4. Jobs are the lowest part, at 2.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Morton 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.
Even so, Morton County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (26.3%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 47.4 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 rent26.3% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.4% · fiscal year 20274th percentile
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- 27.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.6% · August 202535th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.7% · August 202528th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score32.0% · second quarter of 202619th percentile
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- 18.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector14.9% · August 202518th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people64.9 · 202517th percentile
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- 16.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.2% · 202416th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.1% · 202418th percentile
- People with a disability9.8% · 2020 to 20243rd percentile
- People without health insurance5.6% · 2020 to 202426th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$83,323 · 202415th percentile
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- 2.7 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 20263rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working9.3% · 2020 to 20241st 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 Morton 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 Morton County, 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Morton County
North Dakota
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Morton County had its largest rise, from 11.2% in 1979 to 15.0% in 1984.
In Morton County, benefit checks' share of income has nearly doubled since 1969, reaching 17.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Morton County, North Dakota, benefit checks' share of income nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 17.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Morton County getting SNAP food aid fell most sharply on the way to its 2023 low, from 5.0% in 2022 to 3.5% in 2023.
The share of households in Morton County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2010 and has since fallen by about a third
Low on the chart: 3.5% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Morton County, North Dakota.
How Morton County has changed
Morton County's population nearly doubled to 34,194, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2009 to 2014, reaching 30,567. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Morton County, North Dakota.
The number of jobs located in Morton County had its largest rise, from 9,374 in 2010 to 11,188 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Morton County nearly doubled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 12,316, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2015 to 2020, reaching 11,378. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Morton County, North Dakota.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.9% | 2025 2.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.2% | 2024 9.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,959 | 2024 $83,323 |
The table uses 2.7% 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 Morton County's history
1830
Fort Clark Trading Post established by American Fur Company. Wikipedia
1872
Fort Greeley (later Fort Hancock) founded on river's east side. Wikipedia
1872
Fort McKeen infantry post constructed on bluffs. Wikipedia
1873
January 8, 1873 (created) November 5, 1878 (organized). Wikipedia
1873
Fort Abraham Lincoln established and designated cavalry post. Wikipedia
1893
Fort Abraham Lincoln deactivated and abandoned. Wikipedia
1953
A tornado in May 1953 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1999
A thunderstorm in June 1999 did $2 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2001
Hail in June 2001 did $113 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in June 2011 did $10 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 33,291, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1966
27 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Morton County, 19 of them for flooding. FEMA
Morton County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Morton County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Morton County ranks 6th of the eight; Sioux County is highest, at 44.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux County, ND | 56 | 29.9% | 44.8% |
| Grant County, ND | 30 | 16.9% | 33.5% |
| Emmons County, ND | 14 | 14.0% | 27.8% |
| Stark County, ND | 9 | 10.1% | 13.1% |
| Morton County, ND | 7 | 9.2% | 17.6% |
| Mercer County, ND | 5 | 8.1% | 20.7% |
| Oliver County, ND | 2 | 11.8% | 21.5% |
| Burleigh County, ND | 1 | 8.1% | 14.5% |
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 Morton County the poorest county in North Dakota?
No, Morton County's poverty rate was 9.2% in 2024, 44th 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, Morton County ranks 26th of 53 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.