Ward County, North Dakota

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.5 | 68,332 people · 7th most distressed in North Dakota
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Ward County, ND falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.5 — 2337th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within North Dakota, it ranks 7th of 53 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ward County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 52.6 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 52.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 41
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 73
Homeownership Rate 90
Economic Vitality 40.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Business Formation Rate 71
House Price Change (YoY) 51
Legal Distress 38.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38
Consumer Credit Distress 34.7
Debt in Collections 24
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 30
Subprime Credit Population 38
Structural Poverty 20.4
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 8

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ward County
Ward County, ND 37.5 Normal —
Mountrail County, ND 39.8 Normal +2.3
Burke County, ND 17.6 Healthy -20.0
McHenry County, ND 17.0 Healthy -20.6
Renville County, ND 16.4 Healthy -21.1
McLean County, ND 15.1 Healthy -22.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ward County
Franklin County, VA 37.5 Normal -0.0
Kauai County, HI 37.5 Normal -0.0
Adams County, PA 37.5 Normal -0.1
El Dorado County, CA 37.7 Normal +0.1
Frederick County, VA 37.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Ward County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Ward County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Ward County.

COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP - MINOT REGION
Minot
701-839-7221 Website
Financial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementRental Help

See all counselors in North Dakota →

Find an Attorney

State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service 701-255-1404

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Ward County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of North Dakota 1-800-634-5263

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in North Dakota →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Ward County, North Dakota?

    Ward County has a County Distress Index score of 37.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,337th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in North Dakota out of 53 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ward County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ward County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 52.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Ward County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ward County (37.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Mountrail County, ND (39.8); Burke County, ND (17.6); McHenry County, ND (17.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Ward County's score of 37.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Ward County's CDI score?

    Ward County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Ward County?

    Ward County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 68,332 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.