North Dakota has 25 designated opportunity zones, all of which are low-income communities. North Dakota did not designate any eligible non-low-income contiguous tracts as opportunity zones.
Urban vs. Rural
North Dakota is highly rural. Statewide, 62 percent of their census tracts are located in rural areas. But unlike most states, North Dakota nominated a higher ratio of urban areas as opportunity zones, concentrating many of their zones in Bismarck and Fargo. As a result, 52 percent of their opportunity zones are located in urban areas.
North Dakota Opportunity Zones Map
Analysis of North Dakota’s Opportunity Zones
| Characteristics | Designated Opportunity Zones | Eligible, nondesignated | All state tracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptives (N) | |||
| Total number of tracts | 25 | 59 | 205 |
| Low-income communities | 25 | 25 | 50 |
| Contiguous | 0 | 33 | 33 |
| Economic (average or average %) | |||
| Median household income | $39,253 | $51,396 | $59,534 |
| Poverty rate | 23.96% | 13.15% | 11.62% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.27% | 3.45% | 2.93% |
| Housing (average or average %) | |||
| Median home value | $101,225 | $122,054 | $148,863 |
| Median rent/month | $578 | $649 | $703 |
| Homeownership | 48.27% | 64.73% | 67.42% |
| Severe rent burden | 17.55% | 13.67% | 13.46% |
| Vacancy rate | 12.27% | 15.11% | 14.08% |
| Demographic (average %) | |||
| White alone | 69.72% | 86.97% | 86.88% |
| Black alone | 2.93% | 1.58% | 1.59% |
| Hispanic | 3.20% | 3.32% | 3.06% |
| Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders alone | 0.99% | 1.36% | 0.96% |
| Younger than 18 | 22.33% | 21.38% | 22.54% |
| Older than 64 | 13.74% | 17.88% | 16.13% |
| Education (average %) | |||
| Age 25+ with high school degree or less | 43.49% | 38.61% | 37.59% |
| Age 25+ with bachelor’s degree or higher | 23.11% | 24.92% | 25.89% |
| Socioeconomic change flag (%) | 4.00% | 0.00% | 0.49% |
| Geography (%) | |||
| In a metro area | 52.00% | 42.37% | 38.05% |
| In a micro area | 8.00% | 8.47% | 20.98% |
| Non-core-based statistical area (not in a metro nor micro area) | 40.00% | 49.15% | 40.98% |
Data Source: Urban Institute
North Dakota Counties & Cities
List of counties in North Dakota: Adams, Barnes, Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells, Williams
List of top 150 U.S. cities located in North Dakota: None
Census tracts designated as opportunity zones in North Dakota
Website: North Dakota Department of Commerce
| State | County | Census Tract Number | Tract Type | ACS Data Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | Barnes | 38003968200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Benson | 38005940100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Burleigh | 38015010100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Burleigh | 38015010200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Burleigh | 38015010800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Cass | 38017000501 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Cass | 38017000502 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Cass | 38017000600 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Cass | 38017000700 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Cass | 38017010107 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Dickey | 38021973400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Emmons | 38029966500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Grand Forks | 38035010100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Grand Forks | 38035010200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Grand Forks | 38035010600 | Low-Income Community | 2012-2016 |
| North Dakota | McKenzie | 38053940100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Morton | 38059020500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Rolette | 38079941800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Rolette | 38079951600 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Rolette | 38079951700 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Sioux | 38085940900 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Stutsman | 38093967800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Walsh | 38099958000 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| North Dakota | Ward | 38101010100 | Low-Income Community | 2012-2016 |
| North Dakota | Wells | 38103959800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
