Bismarck vs Grand Forks
Bismarck, North Dakota versus Grand Forks, North Dakota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Grand Forks edges out Bismarck on overall objective livability (49 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bismarck | Grand Forks |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $76k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $41k |
| Home Value | $284k | $237k |
| Monthly Rent | $969 | $927 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.98% | 1.21% |
| Income Tax | 2.50% | 2.50% |
| Sales Tax | 7.04% | 7.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 8.47% | 9.68% |
| Unemployment | 3.1% | 3.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 13°F | 6°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.0 in | 22.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.5 in | 48.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 239 days | 229 days |
| Summer Humidity | 58°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 63 days | 77 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 85.2 | 34.9 |
| Air Quality | 56 AQI | — |
| School Quality | 63.4 | 59.1 |
| Violent Crime | 1847/100k | 1689/100k |
| Property Crime | 3374/100k | 3002/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 73,694 | 58,935 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 29.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.25 | 0.32 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 1.09 |
| Political Leaning | R+42 | R+14 |
| White (%) | 85.1% | 80.7% |
| Black (%) | 2.5% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.7% | 4.9% |
| Asian (%) | 1.0% | 3.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 8.7% | 6.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 16 min | 14 min |
| Walkability | 9.4/20 | 15.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 387 mi | 280 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.4% | 85.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.10 | 22.23 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bismarck or Grand Forks more affordable?
- Grand Forks has the lower cost of living: its index is $41k, compared with Bismarck's $43k and Grand Forks's $41k. Median rent is $969 in Bismarck versus $927 in Grand Forks.
- Is Bismarck or Grand Forks safer?
- Grand Forks has the lower violent crime rate. Bismarck reports 1847/100k and Grand Forks reports 1689/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bismarck or Grand Forks?
- The median home value is $284k in Bismarck and $237k in Grand Forks, so homes are more affordable in Grand Forks.