City · North Dakota

Park River, North Dakota

Park River, city, in Walsh County, North Dakota. Park River had 1,363 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,424 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,458 (±158). GEOID 3860900.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,363

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,424 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,458 ±158

Median household income

$69,408

±$7,756 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $76,657

Median home value

$131,900

±$32,127 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $249,900

Median gross rent

$818

±$136 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $954

Where is Park River and what county is it in?

Park River is a city in Walsh County, North Dakota. It covers 2.6 square miles of land, 550 residents per square mile in 2020.

Park River (marked with a dot) in Walsh County, North Dakota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Park River, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,363 people lived in Park River on July 1, 2025, down 4.1% since 2020, while North Dakota grew 2.6%. The 2020 Census counted 1,424 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,458 (±158).

  • July 2020→2021 −9 (1,409)
  • 2021→2022 −4 (1,405)
  • 2022→2023 −26 (1,379)
  • 2023→2024 −13 (1,366)
  • 2024→2025 −3 (1,363)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Park RiverWalsh CountyNorth Dakota Change since 2015-2019
Total population 1,458 ±158 10,396 784,841 no clear change
Households 591 ±58 4,400 331,063 no clear change
Average household size 2.33 ±0.24 2.28 2.28 no clear change
Housing units 660 ±63 5,184 377,281 −119

Park River's population since 2000

From 1,535 in 2000 to 1,363 in 2025: down 11.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Park River 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.

  • 2000 Census 1,535
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,451
  • 2010 Census 1,403
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,366
  • 2020 Census 1,424
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,363

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 Park River?

The median resident of Park River is 46.5 years old; 21.5% are under 18 and 25.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.0%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Park RiverWalsh CountyNorth Dakota Change since 2015-2019
Median age 46.5 ±6.6 43.2 35.9 no clear change
Under 18 years 21.5% ±2.9 pts 23.4% 23.5% –
65 years and over 25.5% ±4.5 pts 21.9% 16.5% –
Male 46.6% ±4.2 pts 51.2% 51.2% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% ±0.5 pts 13.1% 4.7% –
White alone, not Hispanic 94.4% ±3.1 pts 81.3% 81.7% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.2 pts 0.8% 3.3% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.2 pts 0.9% 1.6% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 2.1% ±1.7 pts 1.3% 4.2% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.7 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 3.0% ±2.6 pts 2.6% 4.0% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.7 pts 0.0% 0.3% –
Born outside the United States 1.6% ±1.1 pts 3.7% 4.7% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 2.2% ±1.6 pts 9.3% 6.7% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 6.5% ±3.1 pts 7.0% 7.1% –
With a disability 15.6% ±4.1 pts 14.1% 12.0% –
No health insurance coverage 3.3% ±1.8 pts 8.0% 6.5% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 89.8% ±4.3 pts 88.8% 94.0% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 22.8% ±4.7 pts 19.2% 32.7% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 6.4% ±2.6 pts 6.0% 9.7% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 92.1% ±3.8 pts 93.7% 84.2% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.0% ±1.3 pts 0.5% 4.2% –

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 Park River earn?

Half of Park River's 591 households earn less than $69,408 a year (±$7,756), against $71,944 in Walsh County and $76,657 in North Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $63,293 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Park RiverWalsh CountyNorth Dakota Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $69,408 ±$7,756 $71,944 $76,657 no clear change
Mean household income $86,834 ±$8,909 $86,230 $101,793 –
Per capita income $37,826 ±$3,644 $36,909 $43,389 no clear change
People below the poverty line 11.3% ±5.0 pts 11.2% 10.8% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 5.4% ±4.4 pts 12.8% 11.1% –
Households receiving SNAP 3.9% ±2.9 pts 4.1% 6.6% –
Households with a computer 94.1% ±4.2 pts 92.1% 94.8% –
Households with a broadband subscription 87.5% ±5.2 pts 85.5% 88.7% –

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 Park River?

Owners occupy 67.3% of Park River's occupied homes and renters 32.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $131,900 by its owner (±$32,127). The median renter pays $818 a month including utilities, and 39.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Park RiverWalsh CountyNorth Dakota Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $131,900 ±$32,127 $132,700 $249,900 no clear change
Median gross rent $818 ±$136 $748 $954 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 39.5% ±16.0 pts 33.0% 31.1% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,242 ±$223 $1,218 $1,762 –
Owner-occupied homes 67.3% ±7.3 pts 76.0% 62.9% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 32.7% ±7.3 pts 24.0% 37.1% –
Housing units 660 ±63 5,184 377,281 −119
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±6.0 pts 1.6% 1.2% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±11.3 pts 5.9% 8.3% –
Single-family detached homes 70.9% ±7.7 pts 74.2% 56.7% –
Mobile homes 7.3% ±4.4 pts 6.7% 6.6% –
Built 2020 or later 0.3% ±0.5 pts 0.2% 1.8% –
Built 2010 to 2019 6.2% ±3.3 pts 4.5% 18.5% –
Built 1939 or earlier 6.8% ±3.3 pts 16.1% 11.5% –
Households with no vehicle 2.2% ±2.0 pts 3.2% 5.9% –

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 Park River building?

Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Park River in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.1 across North Dakota.

  • 2019 0 units
  • 2020 1 units
  • 2021 0 units
  • 2022 0 units
  • 2023 0 units
  • 2024 0 units
  • 2025 0 units

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 Park River work and get to work?

83.4% of Park River's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 15.9 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Park RiverWalsh CountyNorth Dakota Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 57.3% ±6.6 pts 64.6% 68.6% –
Unemployment rate 1.6% ±1.5 pts 2.0% 2.8% –
Drove alone to work 83.4% ±6.7 pts 80.4% 77.9% –
Carpooled 6.5% ±3.6 pts 10.5% 8.8% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±3.7 pts 0.3% 0.3% –
Walked 3.2% ±2.1 pts 3.6% 3.2% –
Worked from home 6.4% ±4.4 pts 4.2% 8.1% –
Mean travel time to work 15.9 min ±4.3 18.0 min 17.9 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 Park River?

1 census tract lies mostly in Park River, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Park River, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Park River
Tract 9582Walsh County1,597 $69,432 $150,40086%
Tract 9581Walsh County2,009 $80,298 $129,2000%

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 Park River) · Census block assignment files

How does Park River compare with other places in North Dakota?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Park River is the 9,114th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 35th-most populous of 355 in North Dakota.

Park River ranks 38th of 64 places in North Dakota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Park River's rank in North Dakota (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate35th355
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)51st62
Residents per square mile47th67
Median household income38th64
Per capita income41st67
Median home value52nd59
Median gross rent32nd56
Poverty rate23rd46
Bachelor's degree or higher48th65
Median age8th67
Owner-occupied share31st64
Travel time to work32nd67

Park River's figures with every place in North Dakota (CSV)

Every place in North Dakota, sortable · Compare Park River 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 Park River?

19 of the 57 figures for Park River 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 Park River 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 Park River.