City profile · North Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Wahpeton, ND

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

7,996
Residents
$57,417
Median income
$164,600
Median home
$873
Median rent (state)

Wahpeton - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Wahpeton places in the 31st percentile for household income and the 24th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

31st
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
24th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Wahpeton, ND

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 7,996 residents in Wahpeton, a small town within North Dakota. The typical household in Wahpeton brings in $57,417 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.6%. Home values in Wahpeton run a median of $164,600, and the median resident age is 34.8 years. 22.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 13 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2426.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Dakota run below the national norm: the state registers 89.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. 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. Commute times here average 16.5 minutes, with 78.2% driving alone and 6.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 35.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

7,996 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Dakota

Median Household Income

$57,417 /yr

Poverty 9.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Dakota average

How does Wahpeton compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 31% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities
Safety 24% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to North Dakota alone, Wahpeton ranks #16 of 21 North Dakota cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Wahpeton 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 Wahpeton near the bottom of North Dakota's cities

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

Median Household Income
#166 of 227
27th percentile in North Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#128 of 246
0th percentile in North Dakota
Median Home Value
#79 of 226
65th percentile in North Dakota
Poverty Rate
#69 of 246
72nd percentile in North Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#103 of 246
58th 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.

31stIncome percentile
24thSafety percentile

31st percentile nationally for median household income · 24th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Wahpeton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Wahpeton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 46 Avg. percentile National median
Wahpeton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Wahpeton's home value compares nationally

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

$164,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% 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. Wahpeton $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 - Wahpeton, ND Wahpeton, ND's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wahpeton, 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 Wahpeton, ND median $57,417/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%
Wahpeton, 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 Wahpeton, ND. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.0%

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

Population
7,996
Median Income
$57,417
Median Home Value
$164,600
Median Age
34.8
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Labor force participation
63.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2426.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
237.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2188.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,950 residents8,000 residents8,050 residents8,100 residents8,150 residents8,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,011 residents 8,141 residents ▲ +1.6%
Wahpeton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
13
housing units authorized
Single-Family
13
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 13
2020 14
2021 16
2022 15
2023 14
2024 13

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
16.5 minutes
Drive Alone
78.2%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.3%
Work from Home
6.7%
Other
2.5%

Based on 4,208 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 Wahpeton 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
35.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Dakota

Devils Lake
7,170 people
Valley City
6,554 people
Watford City
6,016 people
Minot AFB
4,904 people
Lincoln
4,309 people
Grafton
4,128 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wahpeton's 7,996 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Butner, NC
7,996 people
Grand Blanc, MI
7,995 people
Fruitvale, CO
7,998 people
Brunswick, MD
7,994 people
Nevada, MO
7,998 people
Golden Valley, AZ
7,999 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wahpeton's $57,417 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Howe, TX
$57,417 median income
Evansdale, IA
$57,415 median income
Brook, IN
$57,422 median income
West Liberty, KY
$57,411 median income
Smiths Station, AL
$57,410 median income
Argyle, WI
$57,424 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wahpeton, 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 Wahpeton, ND - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.0% White 87.6% Black or African American 1.9% Asian 0.2% American Indian 4.4% Native Hawaiian 0.5% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 4.5% 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 Wahpeton 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
Wahpeton (this city) 7,996 $57,417
Devils Lake 7,170 $42,755
Valley City 6,554 $56,471
Watford City 6,016 $88,351
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ND FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wahpeton, ND?

What is the population of Wahpeton, ND? +

Wahpeton, ND counts 7,996 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Wahpeton households earn a median of $57,417 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wahpeton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wahpeton; 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.

Is Wahpeton, ND safe? +

Wahpeton has a total crime rate of 2426.5 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Wahpeton, ND? +

Homes in Wahpeton carry a median value of $164,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.