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Bismarck, ND

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US location · verified

Neighborhood intelligence

Your Bismarck relocation brief

Safety, noise, air quality, true cost, hazard, and commute intelligence for Bismarck.

Median rent

$999/mo

ACS 2024 5-year

HUD 2-bedroom FMR $1,067/mo

Median household income

$78,387

ACS 2024 5-year

Median home value

$300,300

ACS 2024 5-year

Safety score

57/100

FBI CDE

Weather

55°F (H 63° / L 47°)

Open-Meteo

Buying in Bismarck? Check current mortgage rates early — before you fall in love with a ZIP.

Safety & Crime Index

57/100

FBI CDE

Typical urban safety profile — 10% above average FBI data, 2023–2024

Good

Noise Level

39 dB — Quiet Suburb

Open-Meteo

Open-Meteo 16-day avg 55°F

Quiet — Low environmental index

Environmental / Air Quality

AQI 35 — Good

Open-Meteo

Low pollen & dust baseline · wind index 72 (100 = avg)

Good / Low Pollen

Neighborhood guide

Living in Bismarck ND

Bismarck is one of the more affordable options in its region at $999/month typical rent. Safety scores 57/100.

Bismarck has about 75,556 residents. Scores below are citywide. Your ZIP can land better or worse on rent and crime.

Is Bismarck ND Safe?

Bismarck ND scores 57/100 on safety (below average). Crime is about 10% above the national average. Expect more property crime (car break-ins, package theft) than a quiet suburb.

Detail: overall crime index 110 (100 = avg); violent crime index 78; property crime index 142. Indexes near 100 track a typical U.S. load. Higher means more crime pressure on that category.

Schools in Bismarck ND

School quality varies by neighborhood in Bismarck. Check GreatSchools.org or your local district for current ratings before you choose a ZIP.

Cost of Living in Bismarck ND

Typical rent in Bismarck is about $999/month (affordable). At $999/month for a typical unit, you need about $35,964+ in household income to rent comfortably without stretching (3× rent × 12). Typical home value: $300,300.

Median household income is $78,387, property taxes run about 1.45%, and homes typically sell in around 28 days. Local median income ($78,387) clears the $35,964 comfort line for that rent.

Walk Score 68 (Somewhat Walkable); transit score 42 (Some Transit).

Weather and Climate in Bismarck ND

Average temperature is about 55°F (highs near 63°F, lows near 47°F).

Cooler months cut into patio season; plan indoor hobbies for part of the year. Heating will show up on winter bills more than AC does in summer. If you visit, go in January. That is when the cold is honest.

Who Should Move to Bismarck ND?

Who tends to thrive in Bismarck: (1) Renters who want $999/month housing without coastal prices (comfort income is about $35,964) (2) Households earning $35,964+ who can clear the 3× rent rule at $999/month (3) Movers with a locked job offer in Bismarck who already priced rent and commute (4) Buyers comparing mid-size metros who will tour multiple ZIPs before signing

Who should look elsewhere: (1) People with young kids who want to let them roam freely (crime pressure is real here; safety 57/100) (2) Households expecting top marks on rent and safety at once (Bismarck does not clear every bar) (3) People who will not research ZIP-level crime maps before leasing

Income sniff test: clear about $35,964 household income for $999/month rent. Under that, pick a cheaper ZIP or a different city.

Bottom Line

Bismarck scores 57/100 on safety with $999/month typical rent. Run the numbers against your income before committing.

Next steps

Tools for your move

Quotes and listings for Bismarck when you're ready to act.

Relocation deep-dive

Before you sign anything

True ownership costs, insurance hazards, and commute math for Bismarck.

True Cost Matrix

Property tax trajectories and climate-adjusted utility estimates

Monthly carrying cost

$2,084

Mortgage + tax + insurance + HOA

Annual property tax

$4,354

Annual est. $5,580

Est. monthly utilities

$471

Climate-adjusted electric, gas & water

Median home price

$300,300

ACS 2024 5-year

Home price trend

5-year median sale price

+11.2% · 5 yr
$270k
2022
$277k
2023
$285k
2024
$292k
2025
$300k
2026

Modeled from +14.2% cumulative appreciation · median sale price by year

Rent vs buy index

Estimated monthly cost comparison

Renting saves ~$1,085/mo vs buying
$999ACS 2024 5-year
Rent
$2,084
Buy

Mortgage

$1,518

Property tax

$363

Insurance

$107

HOA

$95

Buy estimate: 20% down, 30-yr fixed at 6.5% APR · taxes, insurance & HOA included

Property tax trajectory

Effective rate and estimated annual bill on median home

2023

1.33%

$3,985/yr

2024

1.37%

$4,104/yr

2025

1.41%

$4,227/yr

2026

1.45%

$4,354/yr

Buying in Bismarck? See current mortgage rates in minutes.

Disaster & Insurance Risk

Flood zone exposure and average insurance premium impacts

Flood zone

Zone X — minimal flood risk

moderate exposure

Wildfire hazard index

20 (100 = avg)

low exposure

Est. annual homeowners insurance

$1,287/yr

moderate exposure
Wind hazard index72 (100 = avg)
Tornado index—
Earthquake index—
Insurance trendTypical near-term temperature around 55°F

Flood and wind exposure can materially affect premiums — verify FEMA maps and carrier quotes before closing. Estimated annual homeowners insurance: $1,287.

Custom Commute Calculator

Work address, MPG, and toll footprint estimates

Work commute & expense calculator

Monthly gas and toll footprint from Bismarck to your workplace

One-way drive

~24 min

At ~30 mph average

Monthly fuel

$66

18.9 gal · 22 days

Monthly tolls

$0

Round-trip toll estimate

Monthly total

$66

Gas + tolls · 48 min/day

Annual footprint

$792

Commute-only estimate

✓ Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, HUD, FBI & Open-Meteo