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Foster
North Dakota

Population

$78K

Median Income

$188K

Median Home

R+52

Politics

Economy

Median Household Income$78K

This county

national avg ~$75K

Poverty Rate9.2%

This county

national avg ~11.5%

Unemployment Rate2.1%

This county

national avg ~3.8%

GDP per Capita$108,691

Federal Spending per Capita$6,933

Median Individual Earnings$49K

This county

national avg $45K

Professional/Management Workers35.4%

Average Adjusted Gross Income$85K

Avg Credit Score733

Work From Home %7.1%

This county

national avg 17.0%

Population Under 1821.9%

This county

national avg 22.0%

Single-Person Households33.9%

This county

national avg 28.0%

Banks & Finance Firms5

Income (20th Percentile)$27K

Income (80th Percentile)$127K

Income (95th Percentile)$232K

Bachelor's Degree or Higher29.6%

This county

national avg 35.0%

Less Than High School5.7%

This county

national avg 11.0%

Knowledge Economy GDP %3.9%

Dependency Ratio1.14

Medicare Spending / Person$3,064

SS Benefits / Person$4,210

Education Wage Premium0.86x

Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$45K

Median Earnings (Graduate)$45K

Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$52K

Public Assistance Recipients0.1%

Average Annual Wage$57K

Professional Services Concentration0.13x national

This county

1.0 = national average share

Housing

Median Home Value$188K

This county

$255K state avg

$303K national

Market Rent (ZORI)$710/mo

This county

$1100/mo state avg

$1400/mo national

Property Tax Rate1.22%

This county

0.88% state avg

1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $1,949

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$873/mo

Home Price Change (1 yr)+18.6%

Home Value to Income Ratio1.5x income

Severely Cost-Burdened Households6.1%

Homeownership Rate78.3%

This county

national avg ~65%

Days on Market (Redfin)— Slow — buyers have leverage

48 days

Months of Supply (Redfin)— Low inventory — sellers market

1.3 mo

Sold Above List (Redfin)

0.0%

Sale-to-List Ratio (Redfin)— Buyers market — homes selling below list

87.0%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy77.9 yrs

This county

national avg ~78.5 years

Food Insecurity3.9%

This county

national avg ~11%

Food Environment Index9.4 / 10

This county

higher = better access

Primary Care Shortage Score0

This county

national avg 5

Mental Health Shortage Score14

Dental Care Shortage Score0

Healthcare Shortage Score4.7

Healthcare Offices6

Obesity Rate (BRFSS)35.9%

This county

national avg 32.0%

Smoking Rate (BRFSS)13.9%

This county

national avg 14.0%

Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)15.5%

This county

national avg 18.0%

Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)22.1%

This county

national avg 24.0%

High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)30.0%

This county

national avg 32.0%

Active Physicians2

Nursing Home Rating3.0 / 5

This county

national avg ~3 stars

ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients486 / 1,000

Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$11,025

Uninsured (under 65)5.4%

This county

national avg ~10%

Adults with Depression21.6%

Education

Math Test Scores3.35 grade level

Reading Test Scores3.15 grade level

HS Diploma Holders628

Bachelor's Degree Holders457

HS Completion Rate94.3%

This county

national avg ~85%

Safety

Violent Crime Rate3.0 / 1,000

This county

national avg ~4.0

Traffic Fatalities1

Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)1th pct

Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)0.0 / 100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale-2.5

January Sunshine0.35

January Temperature-2.28

Average Temp41°F

Avg High Temp52°F

Avg Low Temp30°F

Annual Precipitation18.7 in/yr

Avg Storm Events5.0 storms/yr

Avg Annual Storm Damage$27K

Drought Index (2022)0.26

Heating Degree Days9,101 HDD/yr

This county

national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr

Cooling Degree Days428 CDD/yr

This county

national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr

Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)9,850 HDD/yr

Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)403 CDD/yr

Avg Tornadoes / Year0.4

Avg Flood Events / Year0.2

Avg Hail Events / Year2.8

Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00

Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0

Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0

Avg Heat Events / Year0.0

Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)18 / 100

Community Resilience (FEMA)87 / 100

Federal Disaster Declarations23 since 1953

Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)5.6 µg/m³

This county

EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)6 properties

FAA-Registered Airports1 total

Airports (excl. heliports)1 airports

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed263 Mbps

This county

national avg ~120 Mbps

Upload Speed245 Mbps

Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)293 Mbps

Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)614 Mbps

Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)50 Mbps

Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)85 ms

Households with 100Mbps+100.0%

This county

national avg 75.0%

Cellular-Only Internet5.3%

This county

national avg 8.0%

Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)268 Mbps

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers127 workers

Public Transit Commuters4 workers

Walk to Work73 workers

Extreme Commutes (90+ min)8 workers

Bike Commuters0.3%

Walk to Work4.1%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden19.1%

This county

national median ~27% of household income

Childcare Centers14.7 per 10K residents

Childcare Facilities5

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout70.8%

This county

national avg ~55%

Volunteering Rate0.0%

Income Inequality (Gini)4.647

Nonprofit Organizations39

Veterans Share5.7%

This county

national avg 7.0%

Married Adults62.8%

Never-Married Adults19.5%

Divorced Adults8.4%

Religious Organizations7

Asian Population0.1%

Native American Population1.0%

Membership Associations23.8 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Recreation Businesses3

Professional Services Firms7

Debt Burden

Avg Mortgage Balance$108K

Avg Student Loan Balance$9K

Avg Credit Card Balance$6K

Loan Delinquency Rate21.8%

This county

national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.40%

Politics

R+52

2024 Presidential · North Dakota was R+33 statewide

vs North Dakota State

Income tax

2.5%Same (state law)

Property tax

1.22%0.88% state avg

Politics

R+52R+33

COL Index

County data98 (state)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↓ -65

More people leaving than arriving

IRS Wealth Migration

Lower-income migration pattern (IRS: 0.59x avg income)

Economic Mobility

56%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Foster County

Median home value: $188K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Local News — Foster

News Dakota · 3 weeks ago

Jamestown Woman Dies in Foster County Crash

GLENFIELD, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A 41-year-old Jamestown woman died in a rollover crash on Saturda…

Health and Human Services North Dakota (.gov) · May 5, 2026

HHS recognizes May as Foster Care Awareness Month, highlights role of community in supporting children and families

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is recognizing May as Foster Care Awareness Month, a ti…

The Mighty 790 KFGO · 3 weeks ago

Woman dies in Foster County crash

GLENFIELD, N.D. (KFGO) - A 41-year-old Jamestown woman is dead after a rollover crash Saturday in Fo…

Grand Forks Herald · Jun 13, 2026

Grand Forks County sees nearly 70% decrease in Native American foster care population

Those who implemented the Indian Child Welfare Act family preservationist program, now active throug…

North Dakota Monitor · Jun 18, 2026

Poor culverts, inspections led to North Dakota derailment, report says

A new report on a fiery train derailment in North Dakota points to deteriorating culverts below the …

Gilbertson Funeral Home · 1 month ago

Susan L. Foster Obituary Apr 26, 2026

A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Enterprise Finnish Ceme…

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Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

FosterNorth Dakota

Foster
North Dakota