10 Best Places To Live In North Dakota For 2020

The 10 Best Places To Live In North Dakota For 2020

Kudos to Lincoln for holding onto the title of HomeSnacks best place to live in North Dakota for the second year running. Located just southeast of Bismarck, Lincoln has access to all the big-city amenities while retaining its small-town charm. A top spot for locals is nearby Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, a diverse landscape where you can camp or fish beside the Missouri and Heart Rivers.

Don't let people tell you that Millennials don't know how to run a successful city, because Lincoln is the youngest city on this list with a median age of 30. The poverty rate is at its lowest level statewide, sitting at 0.1%. A whopping 98.0% of residents have health insurance, the 2nd highest rate in North Dakota. It's unlikely you'll need help with medical bills because of criminal activity, though, seeing as Lincoln has the 4th lowest crime rate statewide, a rate about 85% below the national average.

The increased demand to live in Lincoln has driven up property values by 10% over the last year. Home prices are already the 6th highest in the state at $227,800. Luckily, Lincoln locals also enjoy the 6th highest median household income statewide at $78,445/year.

2. West Fargo

Will you find the 2nd best place to live in North Dakota in West Fargo? You betcha! More than just the movie and its (possibly) tired cliches, West Fargo is a city that encapsulates the can-do frontier spirit of the past while looking to the future. href="https://www.bonanzaville.org/">Bonanzaville, part pioneer village and part history museum, is dedicated to honoring the past, while the Red River Valley Fair celebrates the present with exhibitions, live entertainment, attractions, and the best food on a stick you've ever had.

The unemployment, poverty, and crime rates in West Fargo all rank within the top ten statewide, so you know the city has all the essentials for a good life sorted out. Schools here consistently outperform the statewide average in test scores and graduation rates. In fact, the city has the 4th lowest high school dropout rate in North Dakota.

It's not hard to see why West Fargo is one of North Dakota's fastest-growing cities. The city has the 5th highest median household income at $81,051/year and the 5th priciest homes statewide at $228,100. All things considered, though, the cost of living in West Fargo is still pretty much on par with the rest of North Dakota.

Beulah is a city of 3,296 located an hour and some change northwest of Bismarck. If you're looking for small-town appeal with big city looks, you've found it in Beulah. From museums, community events, and outdoor recreation like you can find at nearby Lake Sakakawea, there's always plenty to do in Beulah.

Beulah has the 3rd lowest crime rate in North Dakota, so safety will never be a concern here. Neither will the local economy, seeing as the poverty rate in Beulah is the 5th lowest statewide at 5.6% and unemployment sits at an incredibly low 0.2%. For all these super qualities, housing in Beulah is fairly affordable, with a typical home selling for $196,800 and your average rental costing about $703/month. That's especially low when you consider that Beulah's residents also enjoy the 2nd highest median household income in the state at $92,917/year. Even better, both income and property values went up by around 10% in the last year.

A flourishing city situated next to Beulah in what's known as the "power belt" of North Dakota, Hazen ranks as the 4th best place to live for 2020. With two camping areas, easy access to boating at Hazen Bay on Lake Sakakawea, and the Knife River Indian Villages nearby, there's no shortage of outdoor activities in Hazen.

Hazen isn't the sort of place where you have to constantly look over your shoulder late at night. We recently named Hazen North Dakota's safest city, with a total crime rate is roughly 95% lower than the national average.

Hazen High School scored a perfect 10/10 on GreatSchools, so you don't need to worry about shaping your kids up for college life here. You also won't have much concern about paying the bills, because the median household income in Hazen is $86,838/year, the 3rd highest in North Dakota.

Life's pretty good in Horace, a southern suburb of Fargo and North Dakota's 5th best city. While Horace's population is pretty small at 2,660 people, having North Dakota's biggest city right up the road means you don't have to sacrifice key amenities to have a small-town vibe. In just twenty minutes, you can find yourself learning about the history of aviation at the Fargo Air Museum or be watching a pack of wolves frolic at the Red River Zoo.

We just hope you're comfortable rubbing shoulders with the state's elite because Horace ranks as the richest place in North Dakota. The median household income is the highest in the state by about 40%, with your typical home bringing in around $131,354/year. Homes in Horace are also the 1st costliest in North Dakota at $293,800, but rent here is only $776/month, which is actually less expensive than the statewide median. Poverty, unemployment, and health insurance rates all rank in the top five in North Dakota.

Located a little over an hour southwest of Fargo, Lisbon clocks in as the 6th best place to live in North Dakota. The motto here is "A Place to Call Home," and we think the data checks out on this claim. Outdoorsmen and women will never be bored in Lisbon because the Sheyenne National Grassland is basically your backyard here. And if angling is your sport of choice, it's tough to beat the bass and crappie fishing on offer at nearby Dead Colt Creek.

Now to the best part about Lisbon: it ranks among North Dakota's most affordable cities, which is a rare thing for places that also feature on "best in state" lists. Lisbon's median home price of $113,700 is 60% cheaper than the statewide median and a typical rent here is around $558/month, less than half the average rent in North Dakota. Unemployment is at a crazy low 0.6% and the violent crime rate ranks as the 3rd lowest in the state.

7. Bismarck

North Dakota's capital city of Bismarck comes in as the 7th best place to call home in the whole state. The economic, cultural, and historical hub of the region, Bismarck has eclectic dining and entertainment options, as well as fun things to do outdoors. Between fishing or cruising down the Missouri River that runs along Bismarck's west side, catching a view of the city from its highest point at the State Capitol Building, and getting in touch with your inner-child at the Superslide Amusement Park, there's something for everyone in Bismarck.

All these awesome amenities contributed to HomeSnacks naming Bismarck one of the best cities for singles in North Dakota. People are copping on to how great Bismarck is, which helps explain why the city has grown by nearly 20% since 2010. That increased demand has led to an increased price in housing, with a nearly 10% spike just last year up to a median home price of $234,500. The job market can handle all these new arrivals though, seeing as the unemployment rate here is under 2%. And besides housing and health care costs, the cost of living in Bismarck is in line with the national average.

Carrington is a city of 2,020 and the county seat of Foster County in central North Dakota. Home to some of the best hunting, fishing, birding, hiking, and biking options in the state, Carrington is a non-stop thrill ride for outdoor enthusiasts. For those trying to stop and smell the roses while sipping on some fine wine, the Dakota Sun Gardens and Winery is a must-visit. If hitting the links is your idea of a good time, the local CrossRoads Golf Club won't disappoint.

With a median age of 49, Carrington is the oldest city we'll be covering here. The city has the 3rd highest rate of residents with health insurance in North Dakota. Older folks in Carrington haven't forgotten about the next generation, either; GreatSchools gave Carrington High a 9/10 rating with a College Success Award to boot.

The unemployment rate in Carrington is the 3rd lowest in the state at 0.5%. As a bonus, Carrington residents enjoy the 1st shortest commute time in North Dakota at just 10 minutes.

Located about an hour west of Minot in northwestern North Dakota, Stanley ranks as the 9th best place to live in North Dakota. Situated on massive oil reserves known as the Bakken Formation, Stanley's population has recently been swelling in a black gold rush. If that doesn't interest you, maybe some dill pickle ice cream from Dakota Drug or a show put on at the Regis Theater across the street will.

Stanley has a quiet, serene vibe without sacrificing on top-quality amenities and natural beauty. That's partly why we named it one of the best places to retire in North Dakota this year. That serenity has a lot to do with a crime rate 90% below the national average that ranks as the 2nd lowest in North Dakota. Stanley also has the 3rd lowest poverty rate in the state at 3.7%. If you want to make Stanley your permanent residence, a home will set you back around $184,900, which is quite reasonable for a city that also enjoys the 9th highest median household income in North Dakota at $68,182/year

Wrapping up our list of the best places to call home in North Dakota is Oakes, a city of 2,042 that serves as the hub of southeastern North Dakota. Though primarily agricultural, Oakes has a large industrial sector and a progressive main street. We named it among North Dakota's best family cities thanks to its great schools, it's three gorgeous parks, and wholesome entertainment options like catching a show at Grand Theatre.

As for parents, Oakes boasts the 3rd shortest average commute time in the state at 11 minutes. It also has the 5th lowest crime rate and 7th lowest poverty rate statewide. All this excellence won't break the bank, either. Oakes has the cheapest median home price on this list at $111,900 and rent typically costs around $635/month, about 25% less than the statewide median price.

How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In North Dakota

Now that we had our set of cities, it was time to rank them.

We ranked each place in North Dakota across a number of criteria from one to 23, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the city posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title "Best Place To Live In North Dakota".

The criteria we looked at were:

• Median Home Values
• Median Income
• Population Density (Higher better)
• Unemployment Rate
• Commute Time
• Crime
• Education Levels
• Health Insurance Coverage
• Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data and FBI Crime Data. You can download the data here.

After the dust settled, what was the best place to live in North Dakota? That would be Lincoln.

If your city or town isn't among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in North Dakota.

Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Lincoln at the end of the cul-de-sac.