Housing decision brief
Renville County, ND Housing Market
Renville County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
29th lowest home value out of 53 North Dakota counties with data | 36th lowest rent out of 53
Median home value
$163,400
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$846/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$819/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.1x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
24.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$27/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Rent burden below pressure line
24.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $27/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
Low disaster-risk signal
Risk score is 98.5 out of 100, a stronger cross-check for long-term ownership costs.
What to Check
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Long-term owners who care about disaster-risk exposure
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Renville County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $163,400 | $149,600 | $281,900 | 9% pressure9% above North Dakota county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $846 | $756 | $1,163 | 12% pressure12% above North Dakota county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $819 | $712 | $1,672 | 15% pressure15% above North Dakota county median |
Median household income | $76,311 | $70,827 | $74,755 | 8% favorable8% above North Dakota county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.68% | 0.93% | 1.02% | 27% favorable27% below North Dakota county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 24.00% | 22.00% | N/A | 9% pressure24.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$42,471
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$41,211
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Renville County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $846/month representing approximately 13.3% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 24.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Renville County pay $846/month on average, compared to $819/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 3%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $33,840/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $35,100/year. With a median household income of $76,311, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 24.0% of renter households in Renville County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Barnes County where rent averages $779/month, Renville County is approximately 9% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sargent County, ND | $149,600 | $835/mo | Same-state comparison near $149,600 home value and $835/mo rent. |
| Barnes County, ND | $168,100 | $779/mo | Same-state comparison near $168,100 home value and $779/mo rent. |
| Bowman County, ND | $176,400 | $869/mo | Same-state comparison near $176,400 home value and $869/mo rent. |
| Foster County, ND | $162,800 | $756/mo | Same-state comparison near $162,800 home value and $756/mo rent. |
| Richland County, ND | $177,600 | $751/mo | Same-state comparison near $177,600 home value and $751/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Renville County
Is Renville County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Renville County?
How much income do you need for housing in Renville County?
What should I double-check before moving to Renville County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.