Best places to live in North Dakota
CityLedger tracks 1 North Dakota metro, led by Fargo. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks one metro in North Dakota: the Fargo, ND-MN Metro Area, anchored by Fargo with a population around 267,793. Its median household income is $76,945 and median rent runs $997 a month — the figures everything below is built from, each linked to its public source.
Fargo is the standout for affordability: it carries North Dakota's lowest overall price level (about 91 against a U.S. average of 100) and, because pay holds up against those low costs, also the state's highest cost-adjusted income — about $84,675, the clearest sign of where a paycheck stretches furthest.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: North Dakota levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 7.0% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and North Dakota state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Fargo earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 72/100; Fargo is the fastest-growing, up 8.8% over the latest population estimate; Fargo carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $15 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 72 | 91 | $76,945 | $997/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in North Dakota — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in North Dakota?
- By overall price level, Fargo is the most affordable metro in North Dakota, at about 91 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in North Dakota?
- Fargo has the highest cost-adjusted income in North Dakota — a median of about $84,675 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does North Dakota have a state income tax?
- Yes. North Dakota levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 7.0%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which North Dakota metro has the highest livability score?
- Fargo, at 72/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.