North Dakota
Among the top 4% of US states for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade A+, better than 96% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 51% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 55% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 49% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade F, better than 8% of US states
- top 1% for cost of living
- top 1% for unemployment
- bottom 2% for airport distance
North Dakota is a U.S. state with about 777,000 residents. It grades A+ for affordability and F for lifestyle & connectivity. Standout strengths include cost of living, unemployment, and monthly owner costs. It rates lower on park & nature access and airport distance.
Official websitend.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in North Dakota is $233k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in North Dakota is $74k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in North Dakota is $892 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- North Dakota has a violent crime rate of 1446/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in North Dakota is 18 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$74k57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 100% of US states
Home Value$233k35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$892better than 90% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$19kbetter than 98% of US states
Property Tax Rate1.01%better than 41% of US states
Income Tax2.59%better than 80% of US states
Sales Tax7.04%better than 44% of US states
Estimated total tax burden8.11%better than 80% of US states
Unemployment3.0%better than 100% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)11°F0th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)70°F14th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation20.9 in18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall46.9 inbetter than 24% of US states
Sunny Days234 daysbetter than 57% of US states
Summer Humidity58°Fbetter than 76% of US states
Comfortable Days74 daysbetter than 28% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk55.9better than 94% of US states
Air Quality46 AQIbetter than 56% of US states
School Quality65.7better than 58% of US states
Violent Crime1446/100kbetter than 28% of US states
Property Crime1972/100kbetter than 34% of US states
Community
Population776,8748th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age36.08th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2514th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0698th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+3394th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)83.0%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)3.2%25th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.3%16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.6%24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)8.0%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 96% of US states
Walkability9.0/20better than 59% of US states
Airport Distance353 mibetter than 2% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access85.8%better than 22% of US states
Amenities Nearby1.97better than 27% of US states
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 18% of US states
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)
Frequently asked questions
- Is North Dakota an affordable place to live?
- North Dakota is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 100% of comparable areas. Median rent is $892.
- Is North Dakota safe?
- North Dakota is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1446/100k (better than 28%). Property crime is 1972/100k.
- What is the weather like in North Dakota?
- North Dakota averages 70°F in July and 11°F in January, with 20.9 in of annual precipitation and about 234 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in North Dakota?
- Public-school quality in North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
- The average one-way commute in North Dakota is 18 min.