About
Life in Bismarck
State government is the backbone (over 4,600 jobs), but healthcare and retail round out a diverse enough job market that unemployment sits at just 2.2%. Housing is reasonable compared to many metros—median home values around $300,000 with median rents near $1,000—though prices have been climbing as the city grows steadily. The real trade-off is weather: winters are cold and windy with moderate snow, while summers get humid and warm.
Bismarck at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
88.0%
of households
Population Growth
+5.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Bismarck: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bismarck, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (11.1%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.5%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.5%
of households
Married Couples
42.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for ND
Rent, home values, and income in Bismarck
In Bismarck, home values are 20% above the ND average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,023
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $378,242 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for ND
Unemployment in Bismarck
Unemployment in Bismarck is close to the ND average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bismarck Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.6 min avg
How Bismarck residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bismarck, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS)
Regional airport · few flights310k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 27% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bismarck runs 27% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
241.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,891.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bismarck Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Burleigh County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Burleigh County, which includes Bismarck, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Hail | $6.7M |
| 2024 | 15 | Hail | $20.4M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $610,000 |
| 2022 | 22 | High Wind | $1.9M |
| 2021 | 19 | Drought | $275,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | High Wind | $180,000 |
| 2019 | 19 | Hail | $730,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $416,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Burleigh County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Burleigh County, which includes Bismarck, is typically good — 285 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
285
per year
Moderate Days
68
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Burleigh County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 7°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bismarck has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 7°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/30°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
56°/33°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
25°/7°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
20.0"
Annual Snowfall
50.5"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
182
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
105
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 4°F | 0.54" |
| Feb | 27°F | 7°F | 0.52" |
| Mar | 40°F | 18°F | 0.92" |
| Apr | 54°F | 29°F | 1.63" |
| May | 66°F | 43°F | 2.56" |
| Jun | 76°F | 53°F | 3.32" |
| Jul | 82°F | 58°F | 3.18" |
| Aug | 80°F | 56°F | 2.70" |
| Sep | 71°F | 46°F | 1.92" |
| Oct | 56°F | 34°F | 1.58" |
| Nov | 40°F | 20°F | 0.74" |
| Dec | 27°F | 10°F | 0.74" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bismarck
Bismarck has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
CHI St Alexius Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Sanford Medical Center Bismarck
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bismarck
Bismarck's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 39.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
27
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Bismarck
Public · 2-year · 2,839 students · in-state tuition $6,037 · 52% graduate · median earnings $57,900 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bismarck
Bismarck has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
National Historic Site
47 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bismarck
Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library
515 N Fifth Street, Bismarck
Cities Near Bismarck
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bismarck?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bismarck FAQ
Is Bismarck, North Dakota affordable?⌄
Bismarck's median rent is $999/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $78,387/year. Median home value is $300,300.
Is Bismarck, North Dakota safe?⌄
Bismarck's violent crime rate was 241 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1892 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bismarck, North Dakota?⌄
Bismarck has an unemployment rate of 2.4%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bismarck, North Dakota?⌄
The cost of living in Bismarck is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $999/month and median household income is $78,387/year. The median home value is $300,300. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bismarck, North Dakota?⌄
The average commute in Bismarck is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from