City · North Dakota
Garrison, North Dakota
Garrison, city, in McLean County, North Dakota. Garrison had 1,446 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,462 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,397 (±227). GEOID 3829460.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,446
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,462 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,397 ±227
Median household income
$71,974
±$10,479 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $76,657
Median home value
$165,800
±$44,915 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $249,900
Median gross rent
$616
±$66 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $954
Where is Garrison and what county is it in?
Garrison is a city in McLean County, North Dakota. It covers 1.4 square miles of land, 1,045 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Garrison, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,446 people lived in Garrison on July 1, 2025, down 1.6% since 2020, while North Dakota grew 2.6%. The 2020 Census counted 1,462 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,397 (±227).
| Measure | Garrison | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,397 ±227 | 9,823 | no clear change |
| Households | 574 ±91 | 4,377 | −179 |
| Average household size | 2.20 ±0.26 | 2.20 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 692 ±99 | 5,807 | no clear change |
Garrison's population since 2000
From 1,318 in 2000 to 1,446 in 2025: up 9.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Garrison as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Garrison?
The median resident of Garrison is 52.5 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 34.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.6%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 4.9%.
| Measure | Garrison | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.5 ±8.3 | 47.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.8% ±5.6 pts | 21.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 34.1% ±6.1 pts | 26.3% | – |
| Male | 47.1% ±3.7 pts | 51.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.1% ±2.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.6% ±3.8 pts | 88.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±2.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±2.1 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.7% ±3.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.9% ±3.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.8% ±3.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
| With a disability | 16.6% ±4.4 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.3% ±3.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.0% ±4.4 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.8% ±5.8 pts | 26.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.9% ±3.4 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.9% ±3.5 pts | 93.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±1.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Garrison earn?
Half of Garrison's 574 households earn less than $71,974 a year (±$10,479), against $83,583 in McLean County and $76,657 in North Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $65,509 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Garrison | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,974 ±$10,479 | $83,583 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $87,201 ±$11,313 | $102,353 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,081 ±$4,591 | $45,317 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.5% ±2.8 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±7.9 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.0% ±3.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.5% ±2.9 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.1% ±6.5 pts | 84.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Garrison?
Owners occupy 81.4% of Garrison's occupied homes and renters 18.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $165,800 by its owner (±$44,915). The median renter pays $616 a month including utilities, and 30.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Garrison | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $165,800 ±$44,915 | $227,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $616 ±$66 | $784 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.8% ±17.3 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,197 ±$85 | $1,599 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 81.4% ±6.1 pts | 84.2% | +8.8 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 18.6% ±6.1 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Housing units | 692 ±99 | 5,807 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.8% ±12.5 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.1% ±6.6 pts | 83.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.2% ±4.1 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 10.7% ±5.1 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.2% ±6.7 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.0% ±3.1 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Garrison building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Garrison in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.7 per 1,000 residents against 3.1 across North Dakota.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Garrison work and get to work?
87.5% of Garrison's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.4 minutes.
| Measure | Garrison | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 47.4% ±7.0 pts | 58.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.0% ±4.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 87.5% ±6.3 pts | 74.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.1% ±5.9 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±4.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.9% ±1.1 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.5% ±2.8 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.4 min ±4.0 | 24.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Garrison?
No census tract lies mostly in Garrison; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9610.01McLean County | 4,668 | $79,063 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Garrison) · Census block assignment files
How does Garrison compare with other places in North Dakota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Garrison is the 8,865th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 34th-most populous of 355 in North Dakota.
Garrison ranks 35th of 64 places in North Dakota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 34th | 355 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 35th | 62 |
| Residents per square mile | 29th | 67 |
| Median household income | 35th | 64 |
| Per capita income | 38th | 67 |
| Median home value | 43rd | 59 |
| Median gross rent | 51st | 56 |
| Poverty rate | 40th | 46 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52nd | 65 |
| Median age | 5th | 67 |
| Owner-occupied share | 16th | 64 |
| Travel time to work | 10th | 67 |
Garrison's figures with every place in North Dakota (CSV)
Every place in North Dakota, sortable · Compare Garrison with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Garrison?
21 of the 57 figures for Garrison on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Garrison are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Garrison.