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North Dakota

#2 of 50 states · 🏆 Elite

#2of 50
North Dakota among U.S. states
A−90
🏆 Elite
🏆 Jobstop 4%
🚽 Ownbottom 27%
Rolled up from 13 ranked cities · 475,730 residents
Taxes
7.09% sales · US 7.00%up to 2.50% income · US 4.63%

City heat map

Every ranked city — bubble size = population, color = how it ranks within North Dakota. Tap a bubble for its card.

Best-ranked in North DakotaWorst-ranked

Color is each city's rank within North Dakota — not its national score. Hover or open a bubble for that, or see every city on one scale on the national map.

The breakdown — worst first

Homeownership27

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Broadband access33

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Income inequality33

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unhealthy air days39

Population-weighted average across 5 North Dakota cities

Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100).

Property-tax burden43

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult obesity45

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Median household income46

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poverty rate49

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Housing cost52

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Adult smoking57

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Share of adults who currently smoke.

Natural disaster risk61

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more.

Bachelor's degree or higher61

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population growth (5yr)62

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Uninsured adults72

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Physical inactivity73

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Air quality (AQI)76

Population-weighted average across 5 North Dakota cities

Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air.

Poor mental health79

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Rent87

Population-weighted average across 12 North Dakota cities

Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time91

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unemployment rate96

Population-weighted average across 13 North Dakota cities

Share of the labor force out of work.

See all North Dakota cities →

North Dakota's headline score is the population-weighted average of its cities' scores, placed on a curve relative to the other states — a bird's-eye, states-vs-states ranking. The breakdown bars above are the absolute, per-metric rollup across its cities of 5,000+ residents. The heat map colors each city by its rank within North Dakota(greenest = best here); the city lists below show each city's national score.