Best Life Index › States › North Dakota › Cities › Bismarck

North Dakota city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Bismarck?

What it costs to live in Bismarck, and how it compares with other North Dakota cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

50

5th best value in North Dakota

How much you get for what you pay, versus other North Dakota cities.

Overall livability

65

2nd overall in North Dakota

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Bismarck is home to about 73,321 people. A typical home runs $254,400 and a household earns around $70,100, a price-to-income ratio of 3.6. Among North Dakota's cities, it ranks 5th for value and 2nd overall.

Bismarck at a glance

Median home price

$254,400

6th in ND of 9

Median rent

$904/mo

Median household income

$70,100

Home price to income

3.6x

Unemployment

3.1%

4th in ND of 9

School rating

6/10

2nd in ND of 9

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in ND of 9

Walk score

7/100

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‹ See all top North Dakota cities ranked  ยท  North Dakota state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within North Dakota only. Updated 2026.