County · North Dakota

Pembina County, North Dakota

Pembina County, North Dakota. Pembina County had 6,568 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.9% since 2020, while North Dakota grew 2.6%. It holds 35 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs and 24 towns and townships) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 38067.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

6,568

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,844 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,727

Median household income

$68,393

±$6,769 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $76,657

Median home value

$119,200

±$6,204 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $249,900

Median gross rent

$684

±$58 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $954

How many people live in Pembina County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 6,844 residents in Pembina County. The Census Bureau estimates 6,568 for July 1, 2025, down 3.9% since 2020, while North Dakota grew 2.6%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 6,727 over 1,119 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −61 (6,766)
2021→2022 −7 (6,759)
2022→2023 −80 (6,679)
2023→2024 −96 (6,583)
2024→2025 −15 (6,568)

Pembina County in North Dakota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Pembina County	North Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	6,727	784,841	−220
Households	2,973±99	331,063	−185
Average household size	2.20±0.07	2.28	no clear change
Housing units	3,503±31	377,281	−362

Pembina County's population since 2000

From 8,585 in 2000 to 6,568 in 2025: down 23.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 8,585
2005 (estimate) 7,911
2010 Census 7,413
2015 (estimate) 7,033
2020 Census 6,844
2025 (estimate) 6,568

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Pembina County?

Pembina County holds 35 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 24 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Cavalier with 1,218 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Pembina County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Cavalier	city	1,246	1,426±190	$60,449	$170,400	6.2%	100%
Walhalla	city	893	865±152	$34,107	$93,000	15.0%	100%
Drayton	city	757	763±99	$70,250	$107,500	5.6%	100%
Cavalier TownshipGEOID 3806712980	township	540	426±147	not published	$212,300	0.0%	100%
Pembina	city	512	625±104	$101,875	$136,200	7.7%	100%
Neche	city	344	398±87	$82,500	$92,500	10.1%	100%
St. Thomas	city	323	306±61	$72,500	$79,300	9.5%	100%
Akra TownshipGEOID 3806700900	township	235	193±78	not published	$257,200	3.1%	100%
Beaulieu TownshipGEOID 3806705580	township	160	136±61	not published	not published	18.3%	100%
Advance TownshipGEOID 3806700700	township	150	200±95	$82,768	$200,000	35.5%	100%
CrystalGEOID 3817060	city	116	103±43	not published	$67,600	1.9%	100%
Carlisle TownshipGEOID 3806712180	township	111	95±41	$205,625	$261,500	0.0%	100%
St. Thomas TownshipGEOID 3806770300	township	107	106±38	not published	$108,800	1.9%	100%
Walhalla TownshipGEOID 3806783020	township	105	40±24	$69,219	not published	15.0%	100%
Thingvalla TownshipGEOID 3806778620	township	98	113±63	$102,500	$210,400	4.4%	100%
Crystal TownshipGEOID 3806717100	township	93	67±42	$115,583	$79,100	6.0%	100%
La Moure TownshipGEOID 3806744580	township	84	48±37	not published	$187,500	10.4%	100%
MountainGEOID 3854740	city	80	100±48	$52,500	$99,000	6.1%	100%
Felson TownshipGEOID 3806725980	township	79	68±58	$66,500	$115,000	42.6%	100%
Gardar TownshipGEOID 3806729140	township	79	35±27	not published	$112,500	0.0%	100%
St. Joseph TownshipGEOID 3806770020	township	77	62±32	$68,250	not published	19.4%	100%
Pembina TownshipGEOID 3806761620	township	63	30±20	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Midland TownshipGEOID 3806752780	township	62	47±24	$94,861	$260,900	0.0%	100%
Elora TownshipGEOID 3806723900	township	61	37±34	$80,714	not published	0.0%	100%
Lodema TownshipGEOID 3806747460	township	59	108±67	$41,806	not published	19.4%	100%
Lincoln TownshipGEOID 3806746660	township	59	25±18	$111,250	$137,500	0.0%	100%
Hamilton TownshipGEOID 3806734660	township	50	44±23	not published	$142,500	0.0%	100%
BathgateGEOID 3805260	city	47	56±26	not published	$50,000	58.9%	100%
HamiltonGEOID 3834620	city	46	39±20	$83,750	$46,300	15.4%	100%
Joliette TownshipGEOID 3806741020	township	44	21±15	not published	not published	28.6%	100%
Bathgate TownshipGEOID 3806705300	township	42	48±49	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Park TownshipGEOID 3806760820	township	37	41±27	$143,500	$169,400	0.0%	100%
Canton City (Hensel)GEOID 3812060	city	31	28±15	not published	$26,300	25.0%	100%
Neche TownshipGEOID 3806755660	township	27	26±14	$164,000	$360,000	0.0%	100%
Drayton TownshipGEOID 3806720380	township	27	2±3	not published	not published	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Pembina County?

The median resident of Pembina County is 45.5 years old; 21.1% are under 18 and 25.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.3%. 4.5% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Pembina County	North Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	45.5±0.5	35.9	−2.6
Under 18 years	21.1%±0.4 pts	23.5%	–
65 years and over	25.9%±0.4 pts	16.5%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.3%	4.7%	+0.8 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	88.2%±0.7 pts	81.7%	−2.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.0%±0.3 pts	3.3%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	1.6%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	1.5%±0.6 pts	4.2%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.3%±1.0 pts	4.0%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	4.5%±1.2 pts	4.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.2%±1.1 pts	6.7%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	10.9%±1.7 pts	7.1%	–
With a disability	13.1%±1.6 pts	12.0%	–
No health insurance coverage	7.0%±2.1 pts	6.5%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.2%±1.4 pts	94.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	24.6%±2.4 pts	32.7%	+4.0 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.4%±1.3 pts	9.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.1%±1.2 pts	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 Pembina County earn?

Half of Pembina County's 2,973 households earn less than $68,393 a year (±$6,769), against $76,657 in North Dakota. In 2015-2019 the median was $79,440 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $11,047 after inflation. 9.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Pembina County	North Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$68,393±$6,769	$76,657	−$11,047
Mean household income	$92,636±$6,776	$101,793	–
Per capita income	$42,318±$2,748	$43,389	no clear change
People below the poverty line	9.2%±2.0 pts	10.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	11.2%±4.6 pts	11.1%	+6.3 pts
Households receiving SNAP	8.6%±2.7 pts	6.6%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	89.5%±2.2 pts	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 Pembina County?

Owners occupy 74.6% of Pembina County's occupied homes and renters 25.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $119,200 by its owner (±$6,204). The median renter pays $684 a month including utilities, and 27.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Pembina County	North Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$119,200±$6,204	$249,900	no clear change
Median gross rent	$684±$58	$954	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	27.0%±6.4 pts	31.1%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,197±$63	$1,762	–
Owner-occupied homes	74.6%±3.7 pts	62.9%	no clear change
Housing units	3,503±31	377,281	−362
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.9%±0.8 pts	1.2%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.3%±5.4 pts	8.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	81.3%±3.1 pts	56.7%	–
Mobile homes	5.5%±1.9 pts	6.6%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.4%±0.4 pts	1.8%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	18.5%±2.8 pts	11.5%	–

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 Pembina County building?

Builders took permits for 2 new housing units across Pembina County in 2025 (2 single-family), 0.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 0 units
2020 7 units
2021 1 units
2022 0 units
2023 1 units
2024 4 units
2025 2 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Pembina County get to work?

75.3% of Pembina County's workers drive alone and 7.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Pembina County	North Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	60.8%±2.3 pts	68.6%	–
Unemployment rate	3.4%±1.5 pts	2.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	75.3%±3.1 pts	77.9%	–
Carpooled	9.4%±2.0 pts	8.8%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.8 pts	0.3%	–
Walked	5.3%±1.7 pts	3.2%	–
Worked from home	7.9%±2.0 pts	8.1%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	17.0 min±1.5	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 are Pembina County's census tracts?

Pembina County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $53,958 (Tract 9502) to $100,156 (Tract 9501).

Census tracts of Pembina County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 950138067950100	Pembina (10%)	1,191	1,295±142	$100,156	$117,500	$733	9.8%
Tract 950238067950200	Walhalla (22%)	1,494	1,499±182	$53,958	$111,300	$629	16.9%
Tract 950538067950500	Drayton (10%)	1,448	1,336±107	$83,125	$106,600	$551	6.0%
Tract 950638067950600	Cavalier (12%)	2,711	2,597±192	$61,863	$158,800	$830	6.2%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Pembina County compare with North Dakota's other counties?

Pembina County's rank among North Dakota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	19th of 53
Growth 2020-2025	40th of 53
Residents per square mile	17th of 53
Median household income	32nd of 53
Median home value	41st of 53
Median gross rent	37th of 53
Poverty rate	33rd of 53
Bachelor's degree or higher	29th of 53
Median age	21st of 53

Every county in North Dakota

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Pembina County 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' school search.