State rental market reference · Data updated October 18, 2026
North Dakota rental market for DSCR investors: rent, taxes and insurance by county
What a rental in North Dakota rents for, what it costs to carry, and whether it stays rented, from official data for all 53 counties. Read it before you price a deal here.
North Dakota at a glance
What does a rental rent for?
$1,078 a month
HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent where most of North Dakota's renters live, from $1,014 (Grand Forks County) to $1,858 (Divide County). It is the government figure for a modest 2-bedroom unit, utilities included, not the rent for a house.
What will property taxes cost?
0.99% of value a year
Homeowners in North Dakota pay a median $2,468 a year on a median home value of $249,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024). A rental can be taxed at a different rate than an owner's home; the local tax bill is the real number.
What will insurance cost?
$1,400 a year
The median that homeowners with a mortgage in North Dakota report paying for homeowners insurance (Census ACS 2020–2024). It is not a landlord quote: a rental policy usually costs more, and flood cover is extra.
Will it stay rented?
8.3% rental vacancy
Share of North Dakota's rental homes vacant and for rent (Census ACS 2020–2024), across 122,979 renter households. Lower means rentals fill faster.
Are jobs growing?
Employment up 0.0% in a year
Employed residents in August 2026 against a year earlier; unemployment 2.2% (BLS, not seasonally adjusted, so compare the same month a year apart).
Is new supply coming?
2,440 homes permitted in 2025
About 7.4 new homes per 1,000 households; 72% single-family (Census Building Permits Survey). More new homes means more competition for tenants and buyers.
How often does it flood?
4,234 flood claims since 2005
National Flood Insurance Program claims on properties in North Dakota since 2005, $128.0 million paid (FEMA). Claims show where water has reached insured buildings; they are not a flood map, so check the FEMA flood zone for the address.
What it means for a DSCR rental in North Dakota
A lender's DSCR is the monthly rent divided by the full monthly payment: principal, interest, property taxes, insurance and any HOA dues. Many lenders accept 1.00x; 1.20x leaves a cushion.
Take a home at North Dakota's median value of $249,900, bought with 25% down on a 7.5% 30-year loan, with the state's typical tax rate and insurance:
- Principal and interest ($187,425 loan)
- $1,311
- Property taxes
- $206
- Insurance
- $117
- Full monthly payment
- $1,633
- Rent for a 1.20x DSCR
- $1,960 a month
The government 2-bedroom figure where most of North Dakota's renters live is $1,078 a month, below the $1,960 that home needs. A house usually rents for more than a 2-bedroom unit, so price the house you are looking at with its own rent. The last column of the table below gives the same figure for each county.
Rules and costs a landlord faces in North Dakota
Each line quotes the official source it comes from and the date it was last checked. These are general rules, not legal advice; local rules can add to them.
- How long before you can file to evict for unpaid rent?
3 calendar days' notice for unpaid rent before an eviction can be filed.
In all cases arising under subsections 4, 5, 6, and 8 of section 47-32-01, three days' written notice of intention to evict must be given to the lessee, subtenant, or party in possession, before proceedings can be instituted.
North Dakota Legislative Assembly (N.D. Century Code ch. 47-32), checked October 18, 2026
- How large a security deposit can you take?
Up to one month's rent.
A lessor may not demand or receive security, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of one month's rent, except:
North Dakota Legislative Assembly (N.D. Century Code ch. 47-16), checked October 18, 2026
- How fast must the deposit come back?
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
Such itemization together with the amount due must be delivered or mailed to the lessee at the last address furnished lessor, along with a written notice within thirty days after termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the lessee.
North Dakota Legislative Assembly (N.D. Century Code ch. 47-16), checked October 18, 2026
- Can rents be capped?
State law bars cities and counties from capping rents.
A political subdivision may not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.
North Dakota Legislative Assembly (N.D. Century Code ch. 47-16), checked October 18, 2026
- What does the state charge to record a purchase?
No state transfer tax on a purchase.
The state and any county, township, city, or any other political subdivision of the state may not impose any mortgage taxes or any sales or transfer taxes on the mortgage or transfer of real property.
North Dakota Legislative Assembly (Constitution of North Dakota, art. X, sec. 27), checked October 18, 2026
- Is a rental taxed like the owner's home?
A rental does not get the owner's homestead benefit.
The homeowner does not qualify to receive the credit if the homestead is rented while the owner is temporarily absent, or the homestead is a farm structure (farm structures are exempt from taxation).
North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, checked October 18, 2026
- Where do you insure when private insurers decline?
North Dakota property insurance placement facility.
"North Dakota property insurance placement facility" or "facility" means the organization formed by insurers to assist applicants in securing basic property or homeowners insurance.
North Dakota Legislative Assembly (N.D. Century Code ch. 26.1-52), checked October 18, 2026
Market hubs in North Dakota
DSCRInfo does not publish a monthly market hub in North Dakota yet. The figures above and the table below cover every county; the market hubs cover other states.
North Dakota by county
All 53 counties, most renter households first. "Rent for 1.20x" is the monthly rent a home at that county's median value needs on the example loan above. A dash means the source publishes no reliable figure there.
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | $1,104 | 1.20% | $1,340 | 5.3% | +0.4% | 1,154 | 1,235 | $2,370 |
| Grand Forks County | $1,014 | 1.15% | $1,340 | 7.3% | +0.5% | 186 | 220 | $2,010 |
| Burleigh County | $1,067 | 0.88% | $1,690 | 6.8% | +0.3% | 303 | 632 | $2,490 |
| Ward County | $1,049 | 1.07% | $1,430 | 5.8% | +0.6% | 128 | 759 | $2,110 |
| Williams County | $1,388 | 0.68% | $1,300 | 25.3% | +0.3% | 145 | 7 | $2,120 |
| Stark County | $1,231 | 0.89% | $1,730 | 6.7% | -3.5% | 65 | 10 | $2,120 |
| Morton County | $1,067 | 1.02% | $1,480 | 5.4% | +0.3% | 100 | 108 | $2,080 |
| Stutsman County | $1,014 | 1.10% | $1,470 | 7.4% | -1.3% | 27 | 76 | $1,690 |
| McKenzie County | $1,577 | 0.43% | $1,570 | 18.6% | -4.1% | 40 | 2 | $2,510 |
| Ramsey County | $1,014 | 0.99% | $1,110 | 0.0% | -0.5% | 6 | 302 | $1,560 |
| Richland County | $1,014 | 1.13% | $1,310 | 7.7% | -1.4% | 44 | 78 | $1,490 |
| Mountrail County | $1,356 | 0.52% | $1,210 | 8.9% | -3.7% | 23 | 0 | $1,710 |
| Barnes County | $1,139 | 1.03% | $1,410 | 14.3% | -3.9% | 4 | 149 | $1,410 |
| Rolette County | $1,111 | 0.94% | $930 | 6.0% | -0.7% | 0 | 0 | $840 |
| Walsh County | $1,014 | 1.07% | $1,220 | 5.9% | +0.8% | 5 | 76 | $1,100 |
| Traill County | $1,014 | 1.03% | $1,500 | 13.3% | +1.1% | 7 | 43 | $1,620 |
| Pembina County | $1,014 | 1.01% | $1,290 | 9.3% | -0.8% | 2 | 62 | $1,000 |
| McLean County | $1,014 | 0.76% | $1,320 | 9.6% | +0.3% | 40 | 5 | $1,730 |
| Mercer County | $1,290 | 1.10% | $1,350 | 23.4% | -0.4% | 3 | 50 | $1,600 |
| Sioux County | $1,014 | 0.49% | – | 2.5% | -2.1% | 0 | 0 | – |
| Ransom County | $1,042 | 1.02% | $1,330 | 7.8% | -0.7% | 2 | 56 | $1,540 |
| Bottineau County | $1,014 | 0.72% | $1,310 | 4.1% | +1.7% | 14 | 1 | $1,490 |
| Benson County | $1,014 | 0.91% | $1,160 | 5.4% | -1.4% | 0 | 175 | $760 |
| Sargent County | $1,080 | 1.12% | $1,380 | 7.7% | -1.5% | 3 | 4 | $1,350 |
| McHenry County | $1,014 | 0.66% | $1,420 | 14.0% | +0.7% | 12 | 19 | $1,190 |
Show the other 28 counties
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells County | $1,014 | 0.98% | $1,370 | 10.1% | -1.0% | 1 | 0 | $970 |
| Dunn County | $1,130 | 0.61% | $2,010 | 8.6% | +1.0% | 18 | 0 | $2,100 |
| Dickey County | $1,014 | 0.92% | $1,470 | 14.6% | +18.9% | 21 | 5 | $1,320 |
| Pierce County | $1,014 | 1.09% | $1,300 | 0.0% | +0.5% | 2 | 0 | $1,220 |
| Nelson County | $1,014 | 0.75% | $1,160 | 6.9% | +1.1% | 4 | 34 | $1,100 |
| Eddy County | $1,014 | 1.00% | $950 | 4.4% | -1.3% | 0 | 5 | $1,000 |
| Foster County | $1,014 | 1.19% | $980 | 8.2% | +2.8% | 2 | 7 | $1,350 |
| Emmons County | $1,014 | 0.91% | $1,260 | 6.3% | -2.6% | 28 | 50 | $970 |
| Cavalier County | $1,014 | 1.34% | $1,040 | 22.0% | +0.0% | 2 | 0 | $1,060 |
| Adams County | $1,014 | 1.00% | $1,520 | 9.8% | -0.3% | 1 | 0 | $980 |
| LaMoure County | $1,014 | 1.01% | $1,310 | 8.6% | +1.0% | 2 | 10 | $990 |
| Kidder County | $1,024 | 0.58% | $1,310 | 0.0% | -0.9% | 0 | 0 | $1,210 |
| Hettinger County | $1,102 | 1.12% | $1,320 | 14.4% | +0.0% | 0 | 2 | $1,000 |
| McIntosh County | $1,014 | 1.08% | $830 | 19.7% | -0.2% | 1 | 0 | $700 |
| Griggs County | $1,014 | 0.91% | $960 | 21.1% | +0.1% | 0 | 3 | $960 |
| Divide County | $1,858 | 0.60% | $2,010 | 13.2% | -0.3% | 0 | 0 | $1,360 |
| Burke County | $1,014 | 0.54% | $1,310 | 21.0% | +0.7% | 6 | 0 | $1,210 |
| Bowman County | $1,014 | 0.73% | $1,300 | 16.2% | -9.3% | 8 | 0 | $1,290 |
| Towner County | $1,014 | 0.88% | $1,040 | 9.1% | +2.7% | 0 | 12 | $1,070 |
| Renville County | $1,014 | 0.68% | $1,320 | 13.4% | +0.6% | 1 | 4 | $1,290 |
| Steele County | $1,014 | 1.01% | $1,320 | – | -0.2% | 2 | 0 | $1,090 |
| Grant County | $1,014 | 0.91% | $1,130 | – | -0.8% | 8 | 2 | $780 |
| Golden Valley County | $1,233 | 0.89% | $1,120 | – | -1.0% | 2 | 0 | $1,000 |
| Logan County | $1,133 | 1.00% | $1,300 | – | +1.1% | 1 | 2 | $870 |
| Sheridan County | $1,078 | 0.70% | $1,410 | – | -0.3% | 4 | 5 | $910 |
| Billings County | $1,014 | 0.37% | $2,090 | – | +3.0% | 5 | 12 | $2,410 |
| Slope County | $1,078 | 0.23% | – | – | -2.9% | 0 | 0 | – |
| Oliver County | $1,067 | 0.62% | $1,490 | – | +0.4% | 8 | 1 | $1,640 |
Where these numbers come from
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents, in effect from October 1, 2026: the rent and utilities of a modest 2-bedroom unit, set for housing vouchers. It is not a house rent. Where HUD publishes by town (New England), the county shows the range. HUD Fair Market Rents
- Property tax, insurance, vacancy and home value
- Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. Property tax is the median tax paid divided by the median home value of owner-occupied homes. Insurance is the median that owners with a mortgage report paying, not a landlord quote. Rental vacancy is homes vacant for rent divided by all rental homes. Figures from too few homes are left blank. American Community Survey
- Jobs
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employed residents in August 2026 against the same month a year earlier, not seasonally adjusted. BLS LAUS
- Permits
- Census Building Permits Survey: new housing units authorized in 2025, all building sizes. Building Permits Survey
- Flood claims
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program claims with a loss in 2005 or later, and the net amount paid. Only insured buildings appear. Check a flood zone
These are screening figures for comparing places, not a quote, an appraisal or a loan offer. North Dakota total flood payments since 2005: $128.0 million.