North Dakota rankings · Cost of living

Most affordable towns in North Dakota

Ranked by how many years of a typical ND household income ($76,657) it takes to buy each town's median home. Lower is easier to buy in. 22 towns with 2,500+ residents.

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Cost of livingMost affordable Cheapest rent Lowest property tax

SchoolsBest schools Highest graduation rate

IncomeHighest income

PeopleMost educated Youngest Oldest Most residents 65+Most kids

Getting aroundShortest commute

GrowthFastest growing

HousingVacation-home towns Most new homes Fastest-rising home prices

WorkMost remote workers

OutdoorsMost conserved land Most trails Most walkable

HealthHealthiest Lowest obesity Fewest smokers Most active Fewest uninsured Lowest depression Closest to a top hospital

ClimateSnowiest Least snow Mildest winters Hottest summers Coolest summers Longest growing season Wettest

KickapooNot on this list

Kickapoo has fewer than 2,500 residents, the floor for ND lists.

Grafton1.9 yrs · $147,300 median home

Valley City2.1 yrs · $162,200 median home

Devils Lake2.2 yrs · $164,900 median home

All 22 towns

Years of income, lowest first. Towns next door to Kickapoo are tagged.

#TownYears of incomeHome valueMedian income

1 Grafton4,102 people 1.9 yrs $147,300$62,679

2 Valley City6,541 people 2.1 yrs $162,200$60,339

3 Devils Lake7,308 people 2.2 yrs $164,900$43,220

4 Wahpeton8,010 people 2.2 yrs $171,300$62,750

5 Jamestown15,787 people 2.6 yrs $199,800$56,554

6 Beulah3,040 people 2.7 yrs $203,300$76,848

7 New Town2,721 people 2.7 yrs $207,600$52,500

8 Grand Forks59,042 people 3.3 yrs $249,900$63,627

9 Minot47,791 people 3.4 yrs $257,100$73,219

10 Mandan24,522 people 3.4 yrs $259,800$71,780

11 Dickinson25,357 people 3.4 yrs $263,700$82,696

12 Casselton2,953 people 3.6 yrs $278,400$73,259

13 Lincoln4,381 people 3.6 yrs $278,900$87,652

14 Fargo131,627 people 3.7 yrs $281,900$66,998

15 Williston28,056 people 3.7 yrs $286,200$79,381

16 Bismarck75,556 people 3.9 yrs $300,300$78,387

17 West Fargo40,094 people 4.2 yrs $321,900$90,665

18 Watford City6,039 people 5.3 yrs $408,500$102,260

19 Apple CreekBurleigh County · 3,490 people 5.4 yrs $411,700$156,615

20 Horace4,588 people 5.4 yrs $414,500$138,578

21 Hay CreekBurleigh County · 4,348 people 6.0 yrs $459,700$160,553

22 GibbsBurleigh County · 2,836 people 6.2 yrs $474,600$155,688

How it works

How this ranking works

The ND list, with the map →

We divide each town’s median home value by the ND median household income ($76,657). The result is how many years of a typical paycheck it takes to buy a typical home there. Lower is more affordable. Across North Dakota as a whole it’s 3.3 years.

Why not each town’s own income? That would rank wealthy towns with half-million-dollar homes as “affordable” only because their residents earn so much. One shared income answers the question people actually ask: where could a typical family afford to live?

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

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Most affordable towns in North Dakota

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