Sargent
North Dakota

What stands out

What stands out about Sargent County: unemployment is among the lowest in America (1.7%), violent crime is in the bottom 2% of American counties (2.8 per 1,000), and the overdose death rate is in the bottom 4% of American counties (0 per 100,000). Within North Dakota it ranks 7th of 53 counties for unemployment, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Sargent County, North Dakota. 3,828 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 0.7% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -22).

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 $75,648 a year, higher than 83% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $63,818. Unemployment runs 1.7%, lower than almost every county in America. 7% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 16 minutes each way.

North Dakota takes 0.7% of that median income in state income tax, about $530 a year.

Home

The median home costs $181K, cheaper than 71% of American counties, about 1.4 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $800 a month. Property tax is 1.14% of home value, roughly $1,535 a year on that median home, higher than 69% of American counties. 73% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 2.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 98% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 79.0 years, longer than 84% of American counties. There is 1 active physician in the county, about 2.6 per 10,000 people. 5.6% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.71 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 81% of American counties. 94% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 22 points. 67% 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 43°F, highs near 54 and lows near 32, colder than 95% of American counties. About 26 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 20 out of 100, safer than 80% of American counties; the county has had 32 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 192 Mbps down, slower than 54% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation.