In Steele County, North Dakota, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Steele County, 13.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 99% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 99% of U.S. counties.
What drives Steele County's score
In Steele County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 20.2. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 5.0. About one in 20 renters (5.0%, 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 Steele 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.
Steele 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.
- 20.2 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202517th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202524th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score31.8% · second quarter of 202619th percentile
-
- 13.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line7.4% · 20245th percentile
- Children below the poverty line7.6% · 20245th or lower percentile
- People with a disability11.2% · 2020 to 20249th percentile
- People without health insurance6.4% · 2020 to 202435th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$89,815 · 202410th percentile
-
- 10.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202615th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working10.7% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
-
- 10.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collectornot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 20258th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people56.1 · 202512th percentile
-
- 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 rent5.0% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income13.6% · fiscal year 20275th or lower 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 Steele 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 Steele County, 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Steele County
North Dakota
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Steele County had its largest rise, from 12.7% in 1984 to 18.9% in 1989.
In Steele County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 16.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Steele County, North Dakota, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 16.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Steele County getting SNAP food aid fell most sharply on the way to its 2010 low, from 2.9% in 2009 to 0.6% in 2010.
The share of households in Steele County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 0.6% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Steele County, North Dakota.
How Steele County has changed
Steele County's population had its largest drop, from 3,854 in 1969 to 3,398 in 1974.
Steele County's population fell by about half from 1969 to 2024, reaching 1,767, with no rise in any year shown
Smallest drop: 2019 to 2024, reaching 1,767. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Steele County, North Dakota.
The number of jobs located in Steele County had its largest drop, from 634 in 2015 to 549 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Steele County was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and is down 16% since
High on the chart: 634 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Steele County, North Dakota.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 1.7% | 2025 3.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.2% | 2024 7.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,114 | 2024 $89,815 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Steele County's history
1883
June 2, 1883 (created) July 13, 1883 (organized). Wikipedia
1910
The county's largest recorded population was the 1910 Census count of 7,616. The 2020 Census counted 1,798, 24% of the peak. Census Bureau
2007
A thunderstorm in July 2007 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A thunderstorm in July 2007 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A thunderstorm in July 2007 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1965
31 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Steele County, 22 of them for flooding. FEMA
Steele County beside its neighbors
All six counties that border Steele County score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Steele County ranks 5th of the seven; Nelson County is highest, at 27.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes County, ND | 13 | 10.4% | 23.2% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 8 | 12.4% | 15.6% |
| Cass County, ND | 7 | 11.0% | 11.7% |
| Traill County, ND | 3 | 10.4% | 20.8% |
| Griggs County, ND | 2 | 11.7% | 24.1% |
| Nelson County, ND | 2 | 11.0% | 27.3% |
| Steele County, ND | 0 | 7.4% | 16.6% |
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 Steele County the poorest county in North Dakota?
No, Steele County's poverty rate was 7.4% in 2024, the lowest 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, Steele County ranks 51st of 53 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.