City profile · North Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Oakes, ND

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

2,046
Residents
$64,750
Median income
$160,100
Median home
$873
Median rent (state)

Oakes - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Oakes lands in the 43rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

43rd
percentile, household income
30th
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: Oakes, ND

North Dakota's Oakes is a small town, with 2,046 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $64,750 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.6%. Home values in Oakes run a median of $160,100, and the median resident age is 38.9 years. About 23.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 70.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 41.6°F.

Living costs in North Dakota run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Dakota scores 89.0 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $873 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Dakota run around $200, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Oakes workers runs 17.3 minutes, with 78.4% driving alone and 7.4% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 15.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

2,046 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Dakota

Median Household Income

$64,750 /yr

Poverty 7.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Dakota average

How does Oakes compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 30% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Oakes's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in North Dakota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

43rdIncome percentile

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

How Oakes's home value compares nationally

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

$160,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 70% 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. Oakes $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 - Oakes, ND Oakes, ND's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Oakes, 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 Oakes, ND median $64,750/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%
Oakes, 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 Oakes, ND. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.5%

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

Population
2,046
Median Income
$64,750
Median Home Value
$160,100
Median Age
38.9
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Labor force participation
70.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
41.6°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
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 →
1,760 residents1,770 residents1,780 residents1,790 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,783 residents 1,765 residents ▼ -1.0%
Oakes's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

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

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 5
2021 3
2022 3
2023 1
2024 2

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.3 minutes
Drive Alone
78.4%
Carpool
10.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
7.4%
Other
0.8%

Based on 1,127 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 Oakes 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
15.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Dakota

Mayville
2,050 people
Bottineau
2,063 people
Grand Forks AFB
2,072 people
Stanley
2,089 people
Carrington
2,171 people
Langdon
1,835 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Oakes's 2,046 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Walnut Cove, NC
2,046 people
Tyler Run, PA
2,046 people
Linden, CA
2,047 people
Plantsville, CT
2,045 people
Independence, LA
2,045 people
Sterlington, LA
2,045 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Oakes's $64,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lincoln Park, CO
$64,750 median income
South Pekin, IL
$64,750 median income
Dorrance, KS
$64,750 median income
Converse, LA
$64,750 median income
Norborne, MO
$64,750 median income
West Wildwood, NJ
$64,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Oakes, 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 Oakes, ND - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.0% White 92.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 2.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 2.4% 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 Oakes 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
Oakes (this city) 2,046 $64,750
Mayville 2,050 $64,044
Bottineau 2,063 $70,882
Grand Forks AFB 2,072 $72,279
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ND NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Oakes, ND?

What is the population of Oakes, ND? +

2,046 people live in Oakes, ND according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Oakes, the typical household earns $64,750 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Oakes? +

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

Oakes's median home value sits at $160,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Oakes? +

The average annual temperature in Oakes runs 41.6°F. 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 Editorial

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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.