City profile · North Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Center, ND

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Center - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

510
Residents
$74,464
Median income
$170,100
Median home
$1,175
Median rent (state)

Center - the verdict

Nationally, Center sits in the 56th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

56th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Center, ND

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 510 residents in Center, a small town within North Dakota. The typical household in Center brings in $74,464 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Home values in Center run a median of $170,100, and the median resident age is 33.1 years. About 23.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Center (Low Activity), per Census BPS data. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 42.6°F with 18.9 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in North Dakota run below the national norm: the state registers 89.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,175 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $200 across North Dakota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 1.7 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

510 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Dakota

Median Household Income

$74,464 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Dakota average

How does Center compare to other US cities?

Where Center sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 56% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Center against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Dakota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Dakota-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Center near the bottom of North Dakota's cities

Among the 246 North Dakota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Center ranks #194 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Center only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#91 of 227
60th percentile in North Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#14 of 246
89th percentile in North Dakota
Median Home Value
#74 of 226
67th percentile in North Dakota
Poverty Rate
#194 of 246
0th percentile in North Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#89 of 246
64th percentile in North Dakota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Dakota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

56thIncome percentile

56th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Center's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$170,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Center $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Center, ND Center, ND's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Center, ND-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Center, ND median $74,464/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Center, ND's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Center, ND. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
510
Median Income
$74,464
Median Home Value
$170,100
Median Age
33.1
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
55.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
42.6°F
Annual Precipitation
18.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
575 residents580 residents585 residents590 residents 202020212022202320242025 582 residents 583 residents ▲ +0.2%
Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.0%
Carpool
6.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
7.5%
Other
0.6%

Based on 187 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Dakota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$200
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Dakota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Dakota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,175/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
1.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Dakota

Turtle Lake
502 people
Strasburg
523 people
Leeds
487 people
Fessenden
477 people
Kulm
476 people
Portland
548 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Center's 510 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Tull, AR
510 people
Calhan, CO
510 people
Bismarck, IL
510 people
Ipava, IL
510 people
Hampton, MN
510 people
Pennock, MN
510 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Center's $74,464 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

McCook, IL
$74,464 median income
Naples Park, FL
$74,462 median income
Weaver, AL
$74,458 median income
Lockwood, MT
$74,451 median income
Litchfield Beach, SC
$74,451 median income
Belfair, WA
$74,477 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Center, ND Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Center, ND - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.5% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.3% White 92.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 7.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Center compares to nearby North Dakota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Center (this city) 510 $74,464
Turtle Lake 502 $57,250
Strasburg 523 $46,750
Leeds 487 $73,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ND NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Center, ND?

What is the population of Center, ND? +

The population of Center, ND stands at 510 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Center, ND? +

Center households earn a median of $74,464 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Center? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Center; the closest available measure is the North Dakota state average, a cost of living index of 89.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Dakota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Center, ND? +

A typical home in Center is worth $170,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Center? +

Climate normals put Center's yearly average temperature at 42.6°F, 18.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.