City profile · North Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Fessenden, ND

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

477
Residents
$65,125
Median income
$73,300
Median home
$873
Median rent (state)

Fessenden - the verdict

Nationally, Fessenden sits in the 43rd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

43rd
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
2nd
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: Fessenden, ND

Fessenden is a small town in North Dakota, home to 477 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Fessenden brings in $65,125 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.1%. Home values in Fessenden run a median of $73,300, and the median resident age is 42.7 years. 19.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 77.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 40.9°F with 17.3 inches of precipitation per year and 33.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in North Dakota run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts North Dakota at 89.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $873 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Dakota run around $200, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 8.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

477 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Dakota

Median Household Income

$65,125 /yr

Poverty 15.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Dakota average

How does Fessenden compare to other US cities?

Here's how Fessenden stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% 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 Fessenden 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

Median Gross Rent places Fessenden near the bottom of North Dakota's cities

Among the 246 North Dakota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fessenden ranks #128 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fessenden only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#136 of 227
40th percentile in North Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#128 of 246
0th percentile in North Dakota
Median Home Value
#190 of 226
16th percentile in North Dakota
Poverty Rate
#39 of 246
84th percentile in North Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#142 of 246
42nd 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.

43rdIncome percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fessenden's home value compares nationally

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

$73,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Fessenden $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 - Fessenden, ND Fessenden, ND's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fessenden, 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 Fessenden, ND median $65,125/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%
Fessenden, 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 Fessenden, ND. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 77.1%

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

Population
477
Median Income
$65,125
Median Home Value
$73,300
Median Age
42.7
Poverty Rate
15.1%
Labor force participation
77.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
40.9°F
Annual Precipitation
17.3"
Annual Snowfall
33.5"

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 →
430 residents440 residents450 residents460 residents470 residents 202020212022202320242025 461 residents 437 residents ▼ -5.2%
Fessenden's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 1
2022 1
2023 1
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
67.5%
Carpool
2.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
23.4%
Work from Home
4.4%
Other
2.5%

Based on 274 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 Fessenden sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$873/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
8.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Dakota

Kulm
476 people
Leeds
487 people
Glenburn
466 people
Towner
466 people
Trenton
464 people
Turtle Lake
502 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fessenden's 477 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Port Penn, DE
477 people
Doon, IA
477 people
Lovilia, IA
477 people
Lewis, KS
477 people
Cream Ridge, NJ
477 people
Ridgewood, OH
477 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fessenden's $65,125 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Washburn, MO
$65,125 median income
Franklin, VA
$65,125 median income
Platte City, MO
$65,132 median income
Portland, MI
$65,116 median income
McIntosh, NM
$65,116 median income
Victory, NY
$65,114 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fessenden, 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 Fessenden, ND - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 98.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 0.4% 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 Fessenden 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
Fessenden (this city) 477 $65,125
Kulm 476 $69,318
Leeds 487 $73,750
Glenburn 466 $80,000
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ND NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fessenden, ND?

What is the population of Fessenden, ND? +

Fessenden, ND has a population of 477 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Fessenden households earn a median of $65,125 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fessenden? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fessenden; 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 Fessenden, ND? +

A typical home in Fessenden is worth $73,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Fessenden? +

Climate normals put Fessenden's yearly average temperature at 40.9°F, 17.3 inches of precipitation, and 33.5 inches of snowfall per year. 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.