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City · 28,056 residents · Williams County, North Dakota

Williston , North Dakota

In Williston, a typical home is worth $286,200 and typical rent is $1,122 a month. Compared with all of Williams County, typical household income is 7% lower and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $286,200

    About the same as the county

    15% above North Dakota

    • Williston
    • Williams
    • North Dakota

  • Typical rent

    $1,122a month

    About the same as the county

    18% above North Dakota

    • Williston
    • Williams
    • North Dakota

  • Typical household income

    $79,381a year

    7% below the county

    4% above North Dakota

    • Williston
    • Williams
    • North Dakota

  • Households that own their home

    47%

    6 points below the county

    16 points below North Dakota

    • Williston
    • Williams
    • North Dakota

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$371,767
4.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,288 a month
4.5% less than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Williston is in Williams County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Williams County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Williston apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Williston has the smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 12 cities in North Dakota with more than 5,000 people: 32%.

  2. 47% of households in Williston own their home, against 53% in Williams County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Williston

What homes there are in Williston, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Williston, the apartment is the most common kind of home: 47%, against 38% in Williams County.

Year built

By age, homes in Williston look like those in Williams County: the typical year built is 2003.

In Williston, 14% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 46% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 53% in Williams County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,974 a month

Williams County: $2,008 a month

Without a mortgage

$552 a month

Williams County: $550 a month

Owners with a mortgage

54%

Williams County: 50%

In Williston, 54% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,974 a month, about the same as in Williams County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Williston rose 20% since 2015–2019, more than in Williams County (15%).

Much as in Williams County, the typical rent in Williston rose 16% since 2015–2019.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWillistonWilliams CountyNorth DakotaUnited States
Rental vacancy 26.7%25.3%8.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.2%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate5.7%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.422.572.282.53
Drive alone 82%82%78%69%
Carpool 11%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate4%8%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in Williston: 26.7% is empty and offered for rent, against 25.3% in Williams County.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.42 on average, against 2.57 in Williams County.

In Williston, 82% of workers drive alone to work; in Williams County, 82%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Williston?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Williston, worth $286,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Williston, which is $79,381 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $99,176 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Williams County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Williston. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $10,017 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,314

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$281,016
Total interest
$404,316
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,833 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,852 a month

  • Tight

    $1,852 to $2,381 a month

    Your payment · 35%

  • Hard

    more than $2,381 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Williston ($79,381 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,314
Principal & interest$1,904
Property tax$165
Home insurance$119
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$127

You need at least $10,017 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Williston and Williams County

Williston is in Williams County, North Dakota. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Williston's own numbers

Typical home value
$286,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,122
Typical yearly household income
$79,381
Households that own their home
47%
Effective property tax rate
0.69%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Williams County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,388
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+27%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Williams County.

Everything about Williams County

Buying

Buying a home in Williston

A typical home in Williston is worth $286,200: about the same as the county and 15% above North Dakota. With the typical household income in Williston ($79,381 a year), a typical home costs 3.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Williston 3.6 years
  • Williams 3.3 years
  • North Dakota 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Williams County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Williams County rose 33% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Williams County.

Period County North Dakota U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.8% +5.1% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +27% +34% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +33% +45% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Williston next to Williams County, North Dakota and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Williston $286,200
  • Williams $284,800
  • North Dakota $249,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Williston $1,122
  • Williams $1,123
  • North Dakota $954
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Williston $79,381
  • Williams $85,595
  • North Dakota $76,657
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Williston next to Williams County and North Dakota
Measure Williston Williams County North Dakota U.S.
Typical home value $286,200 $284,800 $249,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,122 $1,123 $954 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $79,381 $85,595 $76,657 $80,734
Households that own their home 47% 53% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,974 $1,939 $2,468 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.69% 0.68% 0.99% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 32% 29% 39% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Williams County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Williston

For a typical $286,200 home in Williston, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Williston's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,314a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $10,017
    Cash to close
    $18,603
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $127

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,262a month

    Down payment
    $14,310
    Cash to close
    $22,896
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $136

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,835a month

    Down payment
    $57,240
    Cash to close
    $65,826
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,099a month

    Down payment
    $42,930
    Cash to close
    $51,516
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Williston and for Williams County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Williston

0.69%of the home’s value each year

$1,974 a year for the typical owner in Williston.

  • Williston 0.69%
  • Williams 0.68%
  • North Dakota 0.99%

What North Dakota publishes Primary Residence Credit (North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner)

Exemptions and deadlines in North Dakota

Flood risk in Williams County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Williams County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Williams County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Williston

Typical rent in Williston is $1,122 a month: about the same as the county. In Williston, 32% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Williams County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,388 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.69 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Williams County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,133 $21.79 $45,320
1 bedroom $1,232 $23.69 $49,280
2 bedrooms $1,388 $26.69 $55,520
3 bedrooms $1,796 $34.54 $71,840
4 bedrooms $1,824 $35.08 $72,960

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Williston

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Williston is in ZIP code 58801.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,400: $12 more than the fair market rent for Williams County ($1,388).

  • 58801 $1,400$1,810

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Williston when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Williston

HUD lists 8 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Williston. These are the largest.

  • Prairie View 1801 8th Ave W, Williston 58801 128 homes, 126 low-income · For older adults · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Williston · Average payment: $369 a month · Average wait: 18 months · Homes at several sites (701) 572-2006
  • Waters Edge 705 5th St E, Williston 58801 51 homes, 50 low-income · 2 bd: 25 · 3 bd: 22 · 4 bd: 4 · In service since 2010 · For families
  • Legacy at Central Place 612 1st Ave W, Williston 58801 44 low-income homes · 1 bd: 28 · 2 bd: 16 · In service since 2014 · For older adults, people with disabilities (701) 271-3207
  • Nokota Ridge 2205 28th St W, Williston 58801 40 low-income homes · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2012 · For families
  • Williston Senior Apt Homes 2610 24th Ave W, Williston 58801 40 homes, 39 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 28 · In service since 2011 · For older adults (701) 355-6344

See all 9 buildings in Williams County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Williston

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Williams County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Williston

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Williston or Williams County. The ones below are statewide in North Dakota: they work in Williston the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Dakota

  • FirstHome Start

    Statewide in North Dakota

    With the North Dakota state agency's FirstHome mortgage, the buyer gets 3% of the loan as a credit toward the cash due at closing (down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses); it cannot be combined with other assistance. Offered by North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

  • DCA

    Statewide in North Dakota

    North Dakota state agency help for low-income buyers with an agency mortgage: 3% of the loan as a credit toward the cash you need at closing (down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses); it cannot be combined with other assistance. Offered by North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Williston

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Williston, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Action Partnership - Minot Region

    2020 8th Ave SE, Minot · 110 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Homelessness services
    • and 1 more
    (701) 839-7221

  • North Dakota Housing Finance Agency

    2624 Vermont Avenue, Bismarck · 166 miles away

    (701) 328-8060

  • Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Ag

    3233 University Dr S, Fargo · 333 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Homelessness services
    • and 1 more
    (701) 232-2452

All counseling agencies in North Dakota

Help in Spanish near Williston

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Williston

HUD’s record names them for Williston or Williams County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Williston Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (701) 572-2006

All housing agencies in North Dakota Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Williston, with the typical home value.

Everything about Williams County Housing in North Dakota

Neighboring counties

If Williams County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Williston.

All guides
A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

Questions

Housing questions about Williston

Short answers with the numbers for Williston and all of Williams County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Williston?

The typical home value in Williston is $286,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Williams County it is $284,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Williston?

Typical rent in Williston is $1,122 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Williams County is $1,388.

What is the FHA loan limit in Williston?

Williston uses the FHA limit for all of Williams County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Williston?

The typical homeowner in Williston pays $1,974 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.69% of the home’s value; in Williams County, the rate is 0.68%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Williston?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Williams County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).