Pros, cons, key stats, and the strongest North Dakota cities to consider. Based on our analysis of 15 tracked North Dakota city markets.
Yes, for many movers. The better answer is city-specific: North Dakota contains both stronger and weaker markets, and the right fit depends on your budget, job needs, climate tolerance, and tax situation.
Pros
- Low top state income-tax rate (2.5%)
- Social Security is not taxed by the state
- Middle-of-the-pack tracked-city housing ($309,510)
- Healthy housing-market momentum in tracked cities (69/100 median)
- Bismarck is one of the strongest current city signals in North Dakota
Cons
- Fewer large/mid-size city options than bigger states (15 tracked)
- State averages hide major city-by-city differences
What this means in practice
Across 15 tracked North Dakota city markets, the median home costs $309,510 with a 1-year change of +5.9% and a median momentum score of 69 out of 100.
On taxes, Lowest income tax in the country (top 2.5%). Modest property. SS untaxed; partial pension treatment. That matters because the cheapest state on paper can still be expensive if property tax, insurance, or local housing costs overwhelm the headline rate.
State-level averages mask city-level variation — within any state, individual cities can have radically different cost, climate, and trajectory. Use the strongest-momentum cities below as a starting point.
Top 5 North Dakota cities by momentum
- Bismarck — momentum 74, median $373,227
- Mandan — momentum 73, median $342,597
- Fargo — momentum 72, median $318,584
- Grand Forks — momentum 72, median $295,824
- Wahpeton — momentum 71, median $233,177