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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