Your life in Rolette County, North Dakota

What stands out

Against every county in America, Rolette County is unusual in three ways: the average temperature is among the coldest in America (39°F), unemployment is in the top 2% of American counties (6.6%), and life expectancy is in the bottom 2% of American counties (68.2 years). Within North Dakota it ranks 2nd of 53 counties for the average temperature, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Rolette County, North Dakota. 12,292 people live here with you. The population shrank 1.2% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -122).

North Dakota's income tax is now among the lowest of any state that has one, with a top rate under 2.5% after 2023 cuts funded by oil revenue, and it stopped taxing Social Security in 2021. Housing is inexpensive and the state has the lowest unemployment in the country in most years. Winters are severe, and the Bakken oil economy makes the western counties boom and bust.

Money

The typical household here brings in $53,806 a year, lower than 70% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $52,347. Unemployment runs 6.6%, higher than 98% of American counties. 3% of workers work from home.

North Dakota takes 0.2% of that median income in state income tax, about $104 a year.

Home

A two-bedroom rents for around $725 a month. Property tax is 1.09% of home value, roughly $980 a year on that median home, higher than 66% of American counties. 66% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.8 per 1,000 residents, higher than 92% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 12 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 68.2 years, shorter than 98% of American counties. There are 13 active physicians in the county, about 10.6 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 8.5% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.84 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 63% of American counties. 85% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 26 points. 40% of eligible voters turned out. Under North Dakota law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 39°F, highs near 50 and lows near 29, colder than almost every county in America. About 15 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 62 out of 100, riskier than 63% of American counties; the county has had 25 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 268 Mbps down, faster than 83% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.4 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 4 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• North Dakota tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.