Bolthole Index

North Dakota · Off-grid & homestead potential

Stark County

54Index Score / 100
#12 of 53 in North Dakota

Stark County scores 54/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths are deep seclusion — about 40 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. The trade-offs: thin water margin (16.4″/yr rainfall).

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Stark County in North Dakota

54
County map
Stark County highlighted among the North Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Stark County scores

Seclusion80100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency2296% ev.
Admin Boringness4590% ev.
Durability64100% ev.
Property Autonomy73100% ev.
Carry Cost75100% ev.

Evidence strength: 97%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$324kTypical home
0.9%Property tax
$1,651Land / acre
16.4"Annual rain
9.6% of yrsSevere drought
5.9 / yr (+5)Mid-century 100°F days
21.4 daysMid-century dry spell
1.27" (+6.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.35×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,259Home insurance / yr
2.6% / yrInsurance growth
0.46%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
40People within 30 min
51,563People within 2 hr
3,497Radius comparison (15 mi)
24.7People / sq mi
0.6%Federal land
91.3%Land at 15% slope or less
11.7%Septic soil without severe limits
99,469 acWorkable land screen
1.8%Wooded land
29.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
42.4°FAvg temp

Scout Stark County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Stark County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Building & land-use rules in Stark County

What it takes to build here — permits, zoning, and septic — scouted from Stark County’s own official sources.

  • Building permitRequired

    Stark County is zoned and the City of Dickinson serves as Stark County's Building Department, indicating building permits are administered for the county.

    Stark County ND - Planning & Zoning / Building Permits ↗
  • County zoningYes

    The Planning & Zoning Department administers and enforces the Stark County Zoning Ordinance and subdivision regulations.

    Stark County ND - Planning & Zoning ↗
  • Septic permittingSouthwestern District Health Unit

    The Southwestern District Health Unit serves Stark County (its board includes Stark) and, per ND DEQ, local public health units issue onsite wastewater permits.

    Southwestern District Health Unit - County Contact Info ↗
  • Owner-builderNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Building inspectionsNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Occupancy certificateNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic inspectionNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Off-grid sanitationNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

Always confirm current rules with Stark County ND Planning & Zoning Department before you buy or build. Scouted Jul 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Stark County, North Dakota

Is Stark County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Stark County scores 54/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 40 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (16.4″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Stark County, North Dakota?

Stark County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Southwestern District Health Unit. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Stark County, North Dakota?

Land in Stark County runs about $1,651 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Stark County?

Stark County gets about 16.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 9.6% of years.

How remote is Stark County?

A representative private-land location has about 40 people within a 30-minute drive and 51,563 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Stark County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

WaterCrystal QuestFilter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.PowerBluettiSolar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

How Stark compares in North Dakota

Compare side-by-side →See all 53 North Dakota counties ranked →