Home / Home Buying by state / North Dakota / Wells County / Fessenden

Buying a home in Fessenden, North Dakota

The typical owner-occupied home in Fessenden is worth about $70,900, 72% below the North Dakota median of $249,900 and 79% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,022 a year in property taxes, about 1.44% of their home's value, higher than the North Dakota rate of 0.99%. The median household earns $65,962 a year, so the median home costs 1.1 times the median income (3.3 times for North Dakota). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 25% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Fessenden at a glance

Fessenden North Dakota U.S.
Median home value $70,900 $249,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,022 $2,468 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.44% 0.99% 0.94%
Median household income $65,962 $76,657 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 78% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 25% 52% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $987 $1,762 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.6% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $547 $954 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.6% 25.0% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1956 1982 1980
Vacant homes 21.1% 12.3% 10.1%
Population 433 784,841 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Fessenden

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Fessenden home of $70,900 with 20% down costs about $496 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $614, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $21,265 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 9% of the median Fessenden household income of $65,962; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $220,000.

The median rent here is $547 a month, a little more than the monthly cost of owning the median home with 20% down.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$14,180
Loan amount$56,720
Principal and interest$382
Property taxes (1.44% a year)$85
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$30
PMI$0
Total per month$496

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$2,482
Loan amount$69,616
Principal and interest$468
Property taxes (1.44% a year)$85
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$30
FHA mortgage insurance$31
Total per month$614

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Fessenden

What is the median home value in Fessenden?

About $70,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Fessenden?

Homeowners pay a median $1,022 a year, which is about 1.44% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Fessenden?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $496 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $21,265 a year.

More about Fessenden

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data