County · North Dakota
Steele County, North Dakota
Steele County, North Dakota. Steele County had 1,797 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.1% since 2020, while North Dakota grew 2.6%. It holds 24 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 20 towns and townships) and 1 census tract. GEOID 38091.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,797
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,798 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,804 ±110
Median household income
$77,500
±$18,242 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $76,657
Median home value
$130,700
±$43,195 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $249,900
Median gross rent
$738
±$192 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $954
How many people live in Steele County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,798 residents in Steele County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,797 for July 1, 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, while North Dakota grew 2.6%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,804 over 712 square miles of land.
| Measure | Steele County | North Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,804±110 | 784,841 | no clear change |
| Households | 806±72 | 331,063 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.24±0.14 | 2.28 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,119±58 | 377,281 | no clear change |
Steele County's population since 2000
From 2,258 in 2000 to 1,797 in 2025: down 20.4%. 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.
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 Steele County?
Steele County holds 24 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 20 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Finley with 392 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Finley | 401 | $74,643 |
|---|---|---|
| Hope | 272 | $54,125 |
| Beaver Creek TownshipGEOID 3809105660 | 87 | $163,523 |
| SharonGEOID 3871940 | 86 | not published |
| Newburgh TownshipGEOID 3809156060 | 80 | $113,750 |
| Primrose TownshipGEOID 3809164660 | 76 | not published |
| Golden Lake TownshipGEOID 3809131140 | 75 | $190,441 |
| Colgate TownshipGEOID 3809115340 | 62 | $175,714 |
| Greenview TownshipGEOID 3809133420 | 54 | $2,500 or less |
| Enger TownshipGEOID 3809124340 | 53 | $171,250 |
| Sherbrooke TownshipGEOID 3809172420 | 46 | $122,143 |
| Melrose TownshipGEOID 3809152020 | 46 | $94,063 |
| Sharon TownshipGEOID 3809171980 | 45 | not published |
| Carpenter TownshipGEOID 3809112220 | 43 | $52,143 |
| Willow Lake TownshipGEOID 3809186460 | 43 | $28,919 |
| Westfield TownshipGEOID 3809184940 | 42 | $85,208 |
| Easton TownshipGEOID 3809121740 | 40 | $93,214 |
| Edendale TownshipGEOID 3809122060 | 38 | not published |
| Hugo TownshipGEOID 3809139340 | 38 | not published |
| Finley TownshipGEOID 3809126460 | 37 | $103,750 |
| Riverside TownshipGEOID 3809167100 | 36 | not published |
| Broadlawn TownshipGEOID 3809109620 | 35 | not published |
| Franklin TownshipGEOID 3809128140 | 35 | not published |
| LuverneGEOID 3848580 | 28 | $116,563 |
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 Steele County?
The median resident of Steele County is 46.9 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 30.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.0%.
| Measure | Steele County | North Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9±3.1 | 35.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.8%±2.0 pts | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 30.0%±2.9 pts | 16.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.9%±1.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.1%±1.7 pts | 81.7% | −3.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.6 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0%±1.4 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.2%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.0%±0.8 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8%±2.0 pts | 7.1% | – |
| With a disability | 11.2%±2.3 pts | 12.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4%±4.3 pts | 6.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.4%±1.8 pts | 94.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.9%±4.5 pts | 32.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.2%±1.3 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4%±0.6 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 Steele County earn?
Half of Steele County's 806 households earn less than $77,500 a year (±$18,242), against $76,657 in North Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $87,040 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Steele County | North Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,500±$18,242 | $76,657 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $96,112±$10,966 | $101,793 | – |
| Per capita income | $43,071±$4,061 | $43,389 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.9%±5.3 pts | 10.8% | +7.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.6%±11.8 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.3%±1.6 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 77.7%±6.0 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 Steele County?
Owners occupy 77.8% of Steele County's occupied homes and renters 22.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,700 by its owner (±$43,195). The median renter pays $738 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Steele County | North Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $130,700±$43,195 | $249,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $738±$192 | $954 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 18.5%±13.3 pts | 31.1% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,468±$408 | $1,762 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.8%±6.6 pts | 62.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,119±58 | 377,281 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±3.9 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.1%±7.6 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.3%±5.0 pts | 56.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.3%±4.7 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.3%±1.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 33.7%±5.1 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 Steele County building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units across Steele County in 2025 (2 single-family), 1.1 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Steele County get to work?
70.8% of Steele County's workers drive alone and 12.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.3%.
| Measure | Steele County | North Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.8%±3.6 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3%±1.8 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 70.8%±5.0 pts | 77.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.5%±3.3 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±3.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 5.9%±2.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.3%±4.6 pts | 8.1% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.2 min±3.0 | 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 Steele County's census tracts?
Steele County is a single census tract.
| Tract 968738091968700 | 1,804±110 | $77,500 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Steele County compare with North Dakota's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 49th of 53 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 18th of 53 |
| Residents per square mile | 38th of 53 |
| Median household income | 20th of 53 |
| Median home value | 36th of 53 |
| Median gross rent | 32nd of 53 |
| Poverty rate | 12th of 53 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13th of 53 |
| Median age | 16th of 53 |
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 Steele 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.