Steele
North Dakota

What stands out

Three things set Steele County apart from the other 3,142 counties: the home price against local income is in the bottom 2% of American counties (1.1 years of income), life expectancy is in the top 2% of American counties (81.9 years), and high-school completion is in the top 2% of American counties (96%). Within North Dakota it ranks 5th of 53 counties for the home price against local income, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Steele County, North Dakota. 1,774 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 0.6% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -9).

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 $85,750 a year, higher than 92% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $62,000. Unemployment runs 2.0%, lower than 95% of American counties. 11% of workers work from home.

North Dakota takes 0.8% of that median income in state income tax, about $727 a year.

Home

A two-bedroom rents for around $638 a month. Property tax is 0.97% of home value, roughly $1,159 a year on that median home, higher than 58% of American counties. 77% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.0 per 1,000 residents, lower than 93% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 81.9 years, longer than 98% of American counties. There are 0 active physicians in the county, about 0.0 per 10,000 people; the nearest doctor is in another county. 6.8% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

96% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 16 points. 77% 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 42°F, highs near 53 and lows near 31, colder than 97% of American counties. About 21 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 16 out of 100, safer than 84% of American counties; the county has had 31 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 178 Mbps down, slower than 59% of American counties. There are 6 airports in the county, counting general aviation.