City · North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, city, in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Grand Forks had 60,365 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 59,166 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 59,042 (±37). GEOID 3832060.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
60,365
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 59,166 · ACS 2020-2024: 59,042 ±37
Median household income
$63,627
±$2,587 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $76,657
Median home value
$249,900
±$8,939 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $249,900
Median gross rent
$980
±$31 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $954
Where is Grand Forks and what county is it in?
Grand Forks is a city in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. It covers 29.1 square miles of land, 2,032 residents per square mile in 2020.
Grand Forks is in the Grand Forks, ND-MN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Grand Forks, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 60,365 people lived in Grand Forks on July 1, 2025, up 2.0% since 2020, slower than North Dakota (+2.6%). The 2020 Census counted 59,166 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 59,042 (±37).
| Measure | Grand Forks | Grand Forks County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 59,042±37 | 72,923 | +2,542 |
| Households | 26,171±448 | 31,295 | +843 |
| Average household size | 2.09±0.04 | 2.18 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 28,129±213 | 33,891 | +992 |
Grand Forks's population since 2000
From 49,321 in 2000 to 60,365 in 2025: up 22.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks?
The median resident of Grand Forks is 29.6 years old; 19.3% are under 18 and 14.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.6%. 7.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Grand Forks | Grand Forks County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6±0.3 | 30.9 | +0.6 |
| Under 18 years | 19.3%±0.4 pts | 21.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.1%±0.4 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Male | 51.7%±0.5 pts | 51.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.6%±0.3 pts | 5.4% | +1.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.7%±0.8 pts | 81.4% | −3.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.3%±0.4 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.3%±0.4 pts | 2.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.9%±0.4 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.9%±1.0 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.7%±1.1 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.1%±1.2 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3%±0.7 pts | 7.6% | – |
| With a disability | 9.9%±0.9 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.0%±0.8 pts | 4.5% | −1.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.7%±0.8 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 40.0%±2.0 pts | 38.0% | +2.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.5%±1.5 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 74.9%±1.7 pts | 77.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 8.1%±1.0 pts | 7.4% | – |
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 Grand Forks earn?
Half of Grand Forks's 26,171 households earn less than $63,627 a year (±$2,587), against $68,075 in Grand Forks County and $76,657 in North Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $61,628 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Grand Forks | Grand Forks County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,627±$2,587 | $68,075 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $88,541±$3,734 | $92,591 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,857±$1,708 | $40,347 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.5%±1.5 pts | 13.2% | −3.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 11.4%±3.1 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.6%±1.2 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.6%±1.0 pts | 95.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.4%±1.7 pts | 88.0% | – |
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 Grand Forks?
Owners occupy 46.4% of Grand Forks's occupied homes and renters 53.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $249,900 by its owner (±$8,939). The median renter pays $980 a month including utilities, and 37.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Grand Forks | Grand Forks County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $249,900±$8,939 | $252,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $980±$31 | $992 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.1%±3.6 pts | 36.6% | −5.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,705±$56 | $1,736 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 46.4%±1.9 pts | 51.8% | +2.8 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 53.6%±1.9 pts | 48.2% | – |
| Housing units | 28,129±213 | 33,891 | +992 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3%±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.9%±2.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 37.1%±1.6 pts | 43.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.3%±0.8 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.6%±0.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 16.2%±1.6 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.9%±1.0 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.2%±1.3 pts | 7.1% | – |
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 Grand Forks building?
Builders took permits for 96 new housing units in Grand Forks in 2025 (96 in single-family houses), 1.6 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 Grand Forks work and get to work?
78.6% of Grand Forks's workers drive alone and 6.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.4%.
| Measure | Grand Forks | Grand Forks County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.0%±1.4 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.4%±0.6 pts | 2.3% | −1.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 78.6%±2.1 pts | 78.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3%±1.2 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3%±0.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 3.3%±0.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.5%±1.1 pts | 6.5% | +3.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.8 min±1.1 | 15.8 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 Grand Forks?
16 census tracts lie mostly in Grand Forks, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $23,636 (Tract 103.02) to $133,905 (Tract 111).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 112.02Grand Forks County | 6,080 | $77,306 |
| Tract 111Grand Forks County | 6,404 | $133,905 |
| Tract 104Grand Forks County | 5,549 | $61,196 |
| Tract 108.01Grand Forks County | 5,500 | $58,661 |
| Tract 102Grand Forks County | 4,496 | $64,258 |
| Tract 108.04Grand Forks County | 4,530 | $56,140 |
| Tract 101Grand Forks County | 3,372 | $49,438 |
| Tract 108.06Grand Forks County | 3,205 | $47,612 |
| Tract 103.02Grand Forks County | 2,667 | $23,636 |
| Tract 112.01Grand Forks County | 2,432 | $48,622 |
| Tract 106Grand Forks County | 2,287 | $42,175 |
| Tract 107Grand Forks County | 2,187 | $70,556 |
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 Grand Forks) · Census block assignment files
How does Grand Forks compare with other places in North Dakota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Grand Forks is the 671st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 3rd-most populous of 355 in North Dakota.
Grand Forks ranks 45th 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 | 3rd | 355 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 16th | 62 |
| Residents per square mile | 7th | 67 |
| Median household income | 45th | 64 |
| Per capita income | 34th | 67 |
| Median home value | 25th | 59 |
| Median gross rent | 19th | 56 |
| Poverty rate | 10th | 46 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10th | 65 |
| Median age | 54th | 67 |
| Owner-occupied share | 56th | 64 |
| Work from home | 19th | 32 |
| Travel time to work | 41st | 67 |
Grand Forks's figures with every place in North Dakota (CSV)
Every place in North Dakota, sortable · Compare Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks?
4 of the 57 figures for Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks.