NDNorth Dakota rankings

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.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

North Dakota · Most affordable

Valley City ranks #2 of 22

2.1 yrs of a typical ND income buys a typical home · Visit Valley City →

1 Grafton 1.9 yrs $147,300 median home 2 Valley City 2.1 yrs $162,200 median home

3 Devils Lake 2.2 yrs $164,900 median home

#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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 this ranking works

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.

Same ranking in other states

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