Bismarck, North Dakota
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 63% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 26% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 2% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 70% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 19% of US places
- top 3% for commute time
- top 16% for cost of living
- bottom 1% for airport distance
Bismarck is a mid-size city in North Dakota with about 74,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, cost of living, and walkability. It rates lower on air quality and airport distance.
Official websitebismarcknd.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Dry · Heavy snow
freezing
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cool
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warm
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82%56%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.0 in0.6 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$76k68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 84% of US places
Home Value$284k75th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$969better than 43% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 25% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.98%better than 51% of US places
Income Tax2.50%better than 82% of US places
Sales Tax7.04%better than 55% of US places
Estimated total tax burden8.47%better than 72% of US places
Unemployment3.1%better than 58% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)13°F3rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)71°F18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation20.0 in14th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall50.5 inbetter than 13% of US places
Sunny Days239 daysbetter than 59% of US places
Summer Humidity58°Fbetter than 80% of US places
Comfortable Days63 daysbetter than 15% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk85.2better than 17% of US places
Air Quality56 AQIbetter than 3% of US places
School Quality63.4better than 58% of US places
Violent Crime1847/100kbetter than 10% of US places
Property Crime3374/100kbetter than 5% of US places
Community
Population73,69498th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.036th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2557th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9953rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+4268th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)85.1%50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)2.5%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)2.7%44th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.0%70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)8.7%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time16 minbetter than 97% of US places
Walkability9.4/20better than 84% of US places
Airport Distance387 mibetter than 1% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access87.4%better than 54% of US places
Amenities Nearby17.10better than 19% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 24% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bismarck an affordable place to live?
- Bismarck is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 84% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Bismarck?
- The median home value in Bismarck is $284k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Bismarck?
- Median household income in Bismarck is $76k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Bismarck?
- Median gross rent in Bismarck is $969 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Bismarck safe?
- Bismarck is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1847/100k (better than 10%). Property crime is 3374/100k.
- What is the weather like in Bismarck?
- Bismarck averages 71°F in July and 13°F in January, with 20.0 in of annual precipitation and about 239 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Bismarck?
- Public-school quality in Bismarck is about average, scoring better than 58% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Bismarck?
- The average one-way commute in Bismarck is 16 min.
Places near Bismarck
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)