Is Barnes County, ND good for real estate investing?

Barnes County has an investment score of 68/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #183 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Barnes?

The rent-to-price ratio in Barnes County is 5.32% annually, which ranks in the 33th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Barnes?

The median home price in Barnes County is $199,967. This ranks #377 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Barnes?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Barnes County would generate negative cash flow of $472/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Barnes County

North DakotaPopulation: 10,826

/100

Hold

#183 of 1,000 counties

#16 in North Dakota (43 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated July 28, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$199,967

Median Home Price

13% below national median

$886/mo

Median Rent

39% below national median

5.32%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 67% nationally

-$472

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $886/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.

Scenario	Purchase price	Monthly cash flow	Cap rate	Cash-on-cash
75% of median value-add or distressed	$149,975	-$210/mo	4.6%	-7.3%
Median typical MLS deal	$199,967	-$472/mo	3.5%	-12.3%
125% of median newer / premium	$249,959	-$734/mo	2.8%	-15.3%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$199,967

Down Payment (20%)$39,993

Loan Amount$159,974

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$886

Monthly P&I-$1,048

Est. Expenses (35%)-$310

Net Cash Flow-$472/mo

3.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.3%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.32%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

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Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

68/100

Cash Flow(30%)

50/100

Based on 5.32% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

92/100

Based on 7.1% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

87/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Strong price appreciation (+7.1% YoY)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (5.32%)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$472/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

10,826

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+Appreciation buyers: YoY growth is meaningfully above the long-run average
+Patient holders willing to accept negative carry for equity gains
+All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield

Skip if

−You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
McKenzieND	71	$356,622	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
RamseyND	70	$220,838	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
MercerND	70	$225,277	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
DunnND	69	$344,716	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
CavalierND	69	$159,453	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
CurrentBarnesND	68	$199,967	$886	5.32%	Buy

The Bottom Line

HoldBarnes scores well overall, but a typical leveraged buy-and-hold loses $472/mo at current rates. Consider house hacking, value-add, or all-cash; otherwise a worse score with positive cash flow may be the better deal.

Barnes County in North Dakota scores 68/100, ranking #183 of 1,000 US counties (top 23%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $472/month; the 5.32% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-472/mo

Cap Rate

3.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.3%