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Moving Guides/Bismarck

Moving to Bismarck

What you need to know before relocating to Bismarck, North Dakota. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Bismarck a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Bismarck compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($951/mo) is below the national average; median household income ($83,440) exceeds the national median; low unemployment rate (2.0%) signals a strong job market.

Bismarck at a Glance

Population
136K
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Median Home Price
$289,400
Unemployment
2.0%
Avg Commute
65815 min

Cost of Living in Bismarck

The median rent in Bismarck is $951/month, while the median home value is $289,400. With a median household income of $83,440, residents spend roughly 14% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Bismarck metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
32% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
5% below

Job Market

Bismarck has a median household income of $83,440, which is 12% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.0%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Bismarck

The violent crime rate in Bismarck is 267 per 100,000 residents, which is 30% below the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1941 per 100,000 residents.

Education in North Dakota

North Dakota has a high school graduation rate of 94% and per-pupil spending of $18,486/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.

39% of North Dakota adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

North Dakota has 219 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.8% uninsured rate, and 4.3 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in North Dakota is 77.9 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Bismarck

+Pros

  • Rent ($951/mo) is below the national average
  • Median household income ($83,440) exceeds the national median
  • Low unemployment rate (2.0%) signals a strong job market
  • Violent crime rate (267/100k) is well below the national average
  • High school graduation rate of 94%
  • Low uninsured rate (5.8%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Longer-than-average commute (65815 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bismarck a good place to live?

Bismarck, North Dakota has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($951/mo) is below the national average and median household income ($83,440) exceeds the national median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Bismarck?

The median rent in Bismarck is $951/month and the median home value is $289,400. The median household income is $83,440. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Bismarck safe?

Bismarck has a violent crime rate of 267 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Bismarck?

Bismarck has an unemployment rate of 2.0%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $83,440.

Explore More About Bismarck