countyscore

Best Counties for Families in North Dakota 2026

53 counties ranked by schools, safety, income, and affordability.

Top 5 Family Counties in North Dakota

1Billings County
84.1
2Steele County
75.8
3Divide County
72.2
4Ransom County
66.7
5Burke County
72.5

All 53 Family-Ranked Counties in North Dakota

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Billings County, ND8784.1
2Steele County, ND7775.8
3Divide County, ND7672.2
4Ransom County, ND7366.7
5Burke County, ND7272.5
6Golden Valley County, ND7268.1
7McHenry County, ND7169.3
8Foster County, ND7164.3
9Cavalier County, ND7166
10Pembina County, ND7169
11Benson County, ND7163.2
12Traill County, ND6964.5
13LaMoure County, ND6970.4
14Renville County, ND6866.8
15Oliver County, ND6874.1
16Nelson County, ND6871.5
17Bowman County, ND6764.9
18Sargent County, ND6660.6
19Mercer County, ND6660.6
20Logan County, ND6567.4
21Wells County, ND6568.2
22Dickey County, ND6462.6
23Hettinger County, ND6462.1
24Rolette County, ND6357.6
25Pierce County, ND6363.9
26Mountrail County, ND6360.7
27Kidder County, ND6369.8
28Griggs County, ND6270
29Sioux County, ND6268.4
30Dunn County, ND6261.5
31Slope County, ND6177.4
32Grant County, ND6166.7
33Bottineau County, ND6161.3
34McIntosh County, ND5860.7
35Barnes County, ND5856.2
36McLean County, ND5760.1
37Sheridan County, ND5662.1
38Towner County, ND5560.4
39Emmons County, ND5560.4
40Walsh County, ND5454.6
41Adams County, ND5362.2
42Ward County, ND5348.2
43Eddy County, ND5160.3
44Stark County, ND4846.9
45Richland County, ND4851.7
46McKenzie County, ND4648.8
47Burleigh County, ND4645.4
48Ramsey County, ND4250.4
49Cass County, ND4238.9
50Stutsman County, ND4248.3
51Williams County, ND4042.8
52Grand Forks County, ND3940.5
53Morton County, ND3638.5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in North Dakota?

Based on our analysis of school quality, safety, income, and cost of living, Billings County ranks as the top family county in North Dakota with a family score of 87.

How many counties in North Dakota are ranked for families?

We rank 53 counties in North Dakota for family suitability, scoring each on school quality (35%), safety (30%), income (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse North Dakota Counties For

RetirementRemote WorkersBest Overall

Family Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.