Spring Data Refresh

May 2026 Newsletter

ND Compass, by NDSU Center for Social Research has officially released Compass Points 2026, sponsored by the Dakota Medical Foundation. This signature annual publication captures the current state of North Dakota, how North Dakota fares in relation to other states, and measures of progress over time in key topic areas.

In this month's article, Mihaela "Ina" Cernusca, ND Compass Program Director, showcases Compass Points by taking a deeper dive into the state of the state rankings. In addition, she highlights notable trends, and also introduces the new website section devoted to applied research and an innovative, research-based tool - the North Dakota Housing Portal - that has been added since the website launch.

  Read the article.

Explore the NEW Compass Points.

Let Data Help You Grow.

North Dakota’s population grew by 0.8 percent between 2024 and 2025, outpacing the national average and reaching nearly 800,000 residents. In spite of this, the growth was not uniformly distributed across North Dakota counties and was largely concentrated in more populous, urban counties. In fact, 87 percent of the state's total population increase came from four urban counties. To see how the population change is impacting your county, explore the full analysis.

Find out more details.

New Season, New Insights.