North Dakota Area Profiles
9 published city profiles across North Dakota, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.
Statewide signals
OpportunityTop 6% of 51 states measured72
Growth39th of 51 states measured38
Housing affordabilityTop 1% of 51 states measured84
Climate44th of 51 states measured51
Physical resilienceTop 32% of 51 states measured67
Access46th of 51 states measured0
Economic stabilityTop 28% of 51 states measured70
Cities
9 published profiles across 7 areasFargo, ND-MN
2 cities
| City | County | Population | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | Cass County | 131,627 | 68 |
| West Fargo | Cass County | 40,094 | 67 |
Bismarck, ND
2 cities
Strongest opportunity
- Grand Forks 81
- West Fargo 80
- Bismarck 80
- Minot 79
- Fargo 77
Fastest development
- Bismarck 63
- Fargo 62
- Grand Forks 61
- Minot 53
- Jamestown 51
Statewide physical risk
Winter weatherElevated
HailElevated
Ice stormElevated
Cold waveElevated
WildfireModerate
Strong windElevated
TornadoModerate
Low or minimal exposure: inland flooding, landslide, lightning, heat wave, drought, earthquake, coastal flooding, avalanche, tsunami, volcanic activity, hurricane.
Population-weighted across every county in North Dakota, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.
Statewide data
| Metric | Value | Compared nationally | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadband access ±0.4%2024 ACS 5-Year | 88.7% | Bottom 16%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Distance to major airportNASR current cycle | 175 mi | Bottom 2%of 51 | NASR current cycle |
| Major airports within 100 milesNASR current cycle | 0 | Bottom 1%of 51 | NASR current cycle |
| No internet access ±0.4%2024 ACS 5-Year | 7.0% | Bottom 39%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Annual precipitation1991-2020 Normals | 18.2" | 24th percentileof 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual snowfall1991-2020 Normals | 45.0" | 84th percentileof 20 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low1991-2020 Normals | 3°F | 6th percentileof 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average July high1991-2020 Normals | 85°F | 34th percentileof 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Comfortable months1991-2020 Normals | 5 | Bottom 22%of 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Seasonal temperature swing1991-2020 Normals | 59°F | 98th percentileof 51 | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average household size ±0.012024 ACS 5-Year | 2.28 | 4th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Households ±1,6992024 ACS 5-Year | 331,063 | 8th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age ±0.22024 ACS 5-Year | 35.9 | 8th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population2024 ACS 5-Year | 784,841 | 8th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population change (1 year)July 1, 2024 estimate | +1.0% | Top 30%of 51 | July 1, 2024 estimate |
| Population change (4 years)July 1, 2024 estimate | +2.2% | Top 46%of 51 | July 1, 2024 estimate |
| Population density2024 ACS 5-Year | 11/sq mi | 6th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population estimateJuly 1, 2024 estimate | 796,568 | 8th percentileof 51 | July 1, 2024 estimate |
| Average permitted value per unit12 months ending July 2026 | $293,594 | 74th percentileof 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Housing units permitted (12 months)12 months ending July 2026 | 2,260 | Bottom 8%of 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Multifamily share of permits12 months ending July 2026 | 23.6% | 20th percentileof 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (3 years)12 months ending July 2026 | −27.9% | Bottom 2%of 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year)12 months ending July 2026 | −3.9% | Bottom 30%of 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents12 months ending July 2026 | 2.9 | Bottom 26%of 51 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Cost of living index2023 | 88.2 | Top 6%of 51 | 2023 |
| Home price change (1 year)2026 Q2 | +4.7% | 80th percentileof 51 | 2026 Q2 |
| Home price change (5 years)2026 Q2 | +35.5% | 24th percentileof 51 | 2026 Q2 |
| Home price change (10 years)2026 Q2 | +53.0% | 4th percentileof 51 | 2026 Q2 |
| Home price to income ±0.02024 ACS 5-Year | 2.5 | Top 18%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate ±0.6%2024 ACS 5-Year | 62.9% | 12th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units ±2822024 ACS 5-Year | 377,281 | 8th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent ±$112024 ACS 5-Year | $954 | Top 8%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value ±$2,9092024 ACS 5-Year | $249,900 | 31st percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median property taxes ±$382024 ACS 5-Year | $2,468 | 41st percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Owner household income ±$1,2092024 ACS 5-Year | $100,032 | Top 39%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Property tax rate ±0.02%2024 ACS 5-Year | 0.99% | 61st percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Rent as a share of income ±0.6%2024 ACS 5-Year | 25.0% | Top 1%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Seasonal and second homes ±7392024 ACS 5-Year | 11,225 | 2nd percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Second homes2024 ACS 5-Year | 3.0% | 43rd percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Vacancy rate2024 ACS 5-Year | 9.3% | 84th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Vacant housing units ±1,6192024 ACS 5-Year | 46,218 | 8th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income ±$1,1632024 ACS 5-Year | $76,657 | Bottom 47%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income ±$5792024 ACS 5-Year | $43,389 | Top 41%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate ±0.5%2024 ACS 5-Year | 9.5% | Top 20%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average commute ±0.2 min2024 ACS 5-Year | 19.2 min | Top 2%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher ±0.7%2024 ACS 5-Year | 32.7% | Bottom 41%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Drove alone to work ±0.4%2024 ACS 5-Year | 77.9% | 88th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| EmploymentAugust 2026 | 424,689 | Bottom 8%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Employment change (3 years)August 2026 | +2.2% | Top 14%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year)August 2026 | 0.0% | Top 34%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Labor forceAugust 2026 | 434,048 | 8th percentileof 51 | August 2026 |
| Labor force participation ±0.4%2024 ACS 5-Year | 84.2% | Top 4%of 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public transit to work ±0.1%2024 ACS 5-Year | 0.3% | 8th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment change (year over year)August 2026 | −0.3% | Top 38%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Unemployment rateAugust 2026 | 2.2% | Top 1%of 51 | August 2026 |
| Worked from home ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year | 8.1% | 6th percentileof 52 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility2024-25 school year | 31.9% | 5th percentileof 45 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency2018-19 school year | 43.1% | Bottom 45%of 50 | 2018-19 school year |
| Public schools2024-25 school year | 480 | 14th percentileof 51 | 2024-25 school year |
| Reading proficiency2018-19 school year | 47.1% | Bottom 31%of 49 | 2018-19 school year |
| Schools behind the staffing ratio2024-25 school year | 465 | 14th percentileof 50 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher2024-25 school year | 11.7 | Top 10%of 50 | 2024-25 school year |
Counties in North Dakota
8 publishedSome measures are published by county and nowhere finer — death rates by intent among them. On a county page those describe the geography they are printed on.
Cass County, ND
193,400 residents · 2.6 homicide deaths per 100k
Burleigh County, ND
100,600 residents · 3.2 homicide deaths per 100k
Grand Forks County, ND
72,923 residents · 2.2 homicide deaths per 100k
Ward County, ND
68,973 residents · 3.5 homicide deaths per 100k
Williams County, ND
39,555 residents · 4.3 homicide deaths per 100k
Morton County, ND
33,777 residents · 3.5 homicide deaths per 100k
Stark County, ND
33,302 residents · 3.6 homicide deaths per 100k
Stutsman County, ND
21,549 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k