Moving to North Dakota

Are You Moving To North Dakota?

North Dakota is a midwestern U.S. state dominated by the Great Plains. Its eastern city of Fargo showcases Native American and modern art at the Plains Art Museum. The area’s immigrant history is honored at the Scandinavian Heritage Association in the city of Minot. The Great Plains give way to the rugged Badlands near the border with Montana, where Theodore Roosevelt National Park spans the Little Missouri River.

North Dakota offers unspoiled wilderness and beautiful parklands. Of the lower 48 states, it is one of America’s most scenic. Also known for haunted places stories, North Dakota seems to have a more friendly type of spirit.  North Dakota’s beauty inspired Theodore Roosevelt to establish the National Forest Service.

North Dakota consistently ranks among the top states for livability and happiness and the statistics certainly don’t lie. If you are looking for a more quiet life or a place to set some roots, the Peace Garden State might be perfect for you

If you’re moving to North Dakota, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.

Moving to North Dakota

Pros and Cons of Living in North Dakota

Here are a few pros and cons to consider as you make your move to The Peace Garden State:

Pros.
  • Happy state: When it comes to overall wellbeing, community, and environment, North Dakota is considered by many as one of the Top 10 happiest states to live in the United States.
  • Beautiful scenery: From golden prairies to majestic bison to clear starry nights (along with glistening lakes and the Missouri River), the Legendary State is a nature lover’s paradise.
  • Tax-friendly state: The top income tax bracket maxes out at only 2.9%. On top of the low tax rates, median rent ($775), and median mortgage ($1,326) are more than reasonable.
  • Plentiful jobs: Combine low unemployment and lots of jobs (in agriculture, energy, software, nursing, etc.) with low taxes and low cost of living, you get a recipe for upward mobility.
Cons.
  • Long, cold winters: Ready for subzero temperatures? If you’re coming from a temperate climate, buckle up (them winter boots, that is)Wintertime can be especially brutal in these parts.
  • Windy: As one of the Top 5 windiest states in the nation, North Dakota can make driving and other activities a bit more difficult. Plus, it can lead to dangerously cold wind chill factors.
  • Hot, humid summers: On the other side of the seasonal spectrum, temperatures can hit the 90s in the summertime. With the heat and humidity comes nasty pests like mosquitoes and ticks.
  • Job opportunities: Okay, this point shows up on both our pros and cons lists. Why? Though there are many jobs and low unemployment, most work is in the agricultural and oil industries, which is limiting.
Tax Rates
  • Property Tax: 0.95%. The effective real-estate tax rate is #24 in the US.
  • Sales Tax: North Dakota’s base state sales tax rate is currently 5%.
  • Income Tax: There are five brackets: 1.1%, 2.04%, 2.27%, 2.64%, and 2.90%.
Housing Market

The typical home value of homes in North Dakota is $245,014. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. North Dakota home values have gone up 4.4% over the past year.

What Should I Know In 2021?

Economy Outlook

North Dakota has been enjoying a robust economy, characterized by a flourishing energy development sector, in addition to strong agriculture, real estate, and government sectors. Communities rely on the strength of their economies to generate financial resources to provide employment at all skill levels and services for their residents. Maintaining a high-quality standard of living in all aspects of life – from housing to health, to education – is influenced by a strong economy. Likewise, the vitality of our economy hinges on the continued success of all aspects of life as well.

North Dakota State University’s second-quarter outlook shows a growing workforce. A cloud in the improved prospects is persistent difficulties in the labor market, where wages and salaries are projected to decline and unemployment could rise.

The unemployment rate is forecast to rise in the early second and third quarters before stabilizing near 6.5%.

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Traffic & Transportation

As one of the largest states in America, along with less than a million residents, North Dakota is a place of unspoiled natural splendor and tons of space. That said, if you want to get around the state, you’ll need access to a vehicle. However, there are several transportation options to choose from in more populated areas like Fargo and Bismarck.

Major Forms of Transportation:

  1. Air (including Grand Forks International Airport)
  2. Major highways and roads
  3. Train (Amtrak’s Empire Builder Line)
  4. Shuttles and buses (various lines)
  5. Rural bus (Jefferson Bus Line, Greyhound, New Town Bus Line)
  6. Personal car, truck, SUV, and other vehicles
  7. Taxi and limousine service (major areas)
  8. Ridesharing (Uber, Lyft, etc. in select areas)

Cost of living

North Dakota consistently ranks among the top states for livability and happiness and the statistics certainly don’t lie. If you are looking for a more quiet life or a place to set some roots, the Peace Garden State might be perfect for you.

Living in North Dakota is less expensive than it is on average across the U.S. as a whole. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, goods and services in the state cost 9.4% less than they do on average nationwide. Compared with all other states, North Dakota has the 16th lowest overall cost of living. North Dakota is home to three metropolitan areas. The most expensive in the state is the Bismarck metro area, where the cost of goods and services is 7.2% lower than the national average and 2.2% higher than the statewide average.

  • The estimated monthly costs for a family of four in North Dakota are $ 3,018.05 without rent.
  • A single person estimated monthly costs are 844.79$ without rent.
Moving to North Dakota

Things to Know When Moving To North Dakota

North Dakota Climate

North Dakota's climate is typical of a continental climate with cold winters and warm-hot summers.

Employment

according to minimum-wage.org, the state’s current minimum wage is $7.25/hour, the same as the federal minimum.

Real Estate

Current median home prices in North Dakota list at $172,500, but the median sale price
in May is $262,140, which is 7.5% or $18,337 more than the annual average.

Average Income

As of Jun 8, 2021, the average annual pay for the Average jobs category in North Dakota is $70,067 year.

Industries

The energy industry is one of the major drivers of North Dakota's economy. The state produces shale gas and has vast reserves of oil and coal.

Crime Rankings

The violent crime rate statewide is 2.8, which is the same as last year and below the national rate of 3.7 incidents per 1,000. North Dakota's property crime rate fell year over year, from 22.1 to 20.4 incidents per 1,000. That's below the national rate of 22.0.

From the blog

Moving Blog.

  • Henry Blok
  • Posted by Henry Blok
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