Best counties to raise a family in North Dakota
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in North Dakota using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Nelson County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C-)
– Population: 3,015
– Median household income: $68,051
– Median home value: $114,500
– Top places to live: McVille (B+), Aneta (B), Michigan City (B)
#24. Dickey County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 4,959
– Median household income: $63,125
– Median home value: $167,100
– Top places to live: Bear Creek Township (A-), Ellendale (B+), Oakes (B+)
#23. Walsh County
– Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (D+)
– Population: 10,488
– Median household income: $69,976
– Median home value: $125,700
– Top places to live: Grafton (B), Fordville (B), Hoople (B)
#22. Stutsman County
– Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 21,525
– Median household income: $60,172
– Median home value: $200,300
– Top places to live: Jamestown (B), Bloom Township (B+), Midway Township (B)
#21. McHenry County
– Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C+), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (D+)
– Population: 5,264
– Median household income: $80,614
– Median home value: $143,200
– Top places to live: Velva (B), Towner (B), Deering (B)
#20. McKenzie County
– Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 14,280
– Median household income: $88,289
– Median home value: $357,300
– Top places to live: Watford City (B), Yellowstone Township (B-), Alexander (B-)
#19. Mercer County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (B+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 8,341
– Median household income: $79,405
– Median home value: $196,200
– Top places to live: Beulah (B-), Hazen (A-), Stanton (B-)
#18. Ramsey County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (C-)
– Population: 11,563
– Median household income: $61,319
– Median home value: $197,400
– Top places to live: Devils Lake (B), North Creel Township (B+), Minnewaukan Township (B+)
#17. Rolette County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 12,065
– Median household income: $57,355
– Median home value: $93,000
– Top places to live: Rolette (A-), Rolla (B), Dunseith (B-)
#16. Ward County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (D+)
– Population: 69,232
– Median household income: $79,273
– Median home value: $259,100
– Top places to live: Minot (B), Afton Township (B+), Burlington (B+)
#15. McLean County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 9,807
– Median household income: $81,847
– Median home value: $233,100
– Top places to live: Garrison (B+), Washburn (B), Turtle Lake (B)
#14. Mountrail County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 9,567
– Median household income: $81,292
– Median home value: $222,200
– Top places to live: Osborn Township (B+), Stanley (B), Plaza (B)
#13. Ransom County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 5,662
– Median household income: $74,521
– Median home value: $174,800
– Top places to live: Big Bend Township (A-), Lisbon (B), Enderlin (B-)
#12. Barnes County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C-)
– Population: 10,794
– Median household income: $70,230
– Median home value: $168,100
– Top places to live: Valley City (B+), Marsh Township (B), Valley Township (B-)
#11. Morton County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 33,479
– Median household income: $79,483
– Median home value: $249,600
– Top places to live: Mandan (B), Hebron (B+), Flasher (B+)
#10. Stark County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C+), cost of living (B), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 33,116
– Median household income: $80,744
– Median home value: $260,400
– Top places to live: Dickinson (B), South Heart (B+), Taylor (B+)
#9. Pembina County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 6,787
– Median household income: $66,884
– Median home value: $116,600
– Top places to live: Pembina (B+), Neche (B+), Cavalier Township (B+)
#8. Benson County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (D-)
– Population: 5,861
– Median household income: $68,049
– Median home value: $83,100
– Top places to live: Leeds (B+), Mission Township (B), Maddock (B)
#7. Williams County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 39,368
– Median household income: $90,224
– Median home value: $267,800
– Top places to live: Williston (B), Grenora (B+), Trenton Township (B)
#6. Bottineau County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 6,390
– Median household income: $83,460
– Median home value: $190,900
– Top places to live: Whitteron Township (A-), Bottineau (B+), Westhope (B)
#5. Richland County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 16,550
– Median household income: $72,524
– Median home value: $177,600
– Top places to live: Wahpeton (B), Colfax (A), Walcott Township (A)
#4. Grand Forks County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 72,764
– Median household income: $68,450
– Median home value: $244,200
– Top places to live: Grand Forks (A-), Hegton Township (A), Michigan Township (A)
#3. Traill County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (C+)
– Population: 7,980
– Median household income: $88,289
– Median home value: $193,200
– Top places to live: Norway Township (A), Hillsboro (A), Portland (B+)
#2. Burleigh County
– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 98,986
– Median household income: $84,948
– Median home value: $314,700
– Top places to live: Bismarck (A-), Lincoln (B-), Painted Woods Township (A)
#1. Cass County
– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 189,286
– Median household income: $75,023
– Median home value: $284,700
– Top places to live: Clara Barton (A+), Longfellow (A), Hawthorne (A)