The 10 Worst Places To Live In North Dakota For 2021

The 10 Worst Places To Live In North Dakota For 2021

Take a ride through Jamestown and you’ll probably be struck by the giant statue of a bison standing outside the National Buffalo Museum. The image underlines the fact that the town of 15,289 people is surrounded by a sprawling prairie, where giant herds of buffalo once roamed.

This isolation hurts the community. Housing and diversity are below expectations. Meanwhile, local schools score just a 5/10 on Great Schools. Still, as one of the few population centers in the area (and one of the state’s biggest cities, if you can believe it), Jamestown’s economy remains reasonably strong. Its unemployment rate stands at 3.2% and its median income hovers at $51,789.

Williston has seen a major surge in population in recent decades, sparked largely by a local oil boom. The number of residents has swelled from less than 13,000 in the 2000 census to a mark of 27,250 today.

That expansion has come with its share of problems. Sure, the oil industry keeps the economy humming, leading to a 2.6% unemployment rate and a $84,710 median income. But this has led to other problems. Specifically, Williston has experienced something of a crime wave, with a rate now more than 25% above the national average.

Besides its strong financial base, Williston offers excellent outdoor activities.

Devils Lake is the largest city to make this list. It’s just across Devil’s Lake from a reservation in the northern half of the state.

There’s a lot of crime here. In fact, it’s the 2nd most dangerous place in North Dakota. You have a 1 in 22 chance of being the victim of a property crime when you’re within the city limits every year. That’s a lot of stolen Vikings (or Packers) jerseys, and a lot of missing slush burgers and bunny lunches.

Welcome to Wahpeton, home of the Wahpper! In case you don’t know, that’s a 40-foot long statue of a fish, known as the world’s largest catfish. When your town has that going for it, what could go wrong?

Plenty, as it turns out. The local economy is sluggish, with a poverty rate of 16.0%. At the same time, housing and education don’t meet expectations. Meanwhile, crime tracks at 20% above the national average.

Sitting near the Minnesota border on the eastern edge of the state, Wahpeton has more to offer than a giant fiberglass fish. You can also check out the Sheyenne National Grassland, located about 40 minutes away.

Mandan sits along the Missouri River in the central part of the state, across the bridge from the state capital of Bismarck. That makes the city part of one of North Dakota’s most important metropolitan areas (though, this being North Dakota, the population only reaches 22,301).

The economy of Mandan stands well ahead of most of the towns that show up on these worst cities lists. The unemployment rate comes in at a scanty 2.3%, while median income hovers at $69,014. Still, there are weak spots. Diversity in town is thin and the crime rate beats the national average by about 30%.

Dickinson advertises itself as “First Choice for Families, Great Choice for Opportunity.” For most of the cities on these worst lists, that would count as severe false advertising. Here, it actually has some merit.

Bolstered by the North Dakota oil boom, Dickinson boasts a skimpy unemployment rate and a median income of $68,718. Housing and affordability also get solid ratings. The town also has its share of local amenities, such as the Dickinson Museum Center, featuring the Badlands Dinosaur Museum.

So what’s the problem? Well, diversity in town leaves a lot to be desired. At the same time, the city’s schools top out at a 6/10 on Great Schools.

With a population of 121,889, Fargo ranks as the largest city in North Dakota. This gives the community some advantages. The economy chugs along with a 3.2% unemployment rate and a $55,551 median income. You’ll also find plenty of activities, from the Plains Art Museum to the Fargo Air Museum.

However, as a big city (by North Dakota standards, anyway), Fargo has its share of problems. The median home price of $212,100 is out of the range of many locals, who earn a median income of $55,551. At the same time, the crime rate stands more than 40% above the national average.

Grafton ranks as the 8th worst place to live in North Dakota for 2021, let’s take a look at why.

Grafton lies in northeast part of the state, near the Minnesota state line and about an hour south of the Canadian border. Founded as a railroad town in the 19th century, the community lands on this list as a result of a weak housing situation and a substandard education system. The local high school scores a horrendous 1/10 on Great Schools.

As the principle population center in the area, Grafton acts as a regional hub. It serves as the county seat and offers significant amenities, including parks and golf courses. If you want a look at historic Grafton, you can check out Elmwood House, a Victorian mansion built in 1895.

Casselton was once the site as the world’s largest pile of empty oil cans. The castoffs from a local gas station were shaped into a 45-foot-tall tower in the 1930s. It lasted until the 21st century, but has since been taken down.

Having lost this landmark, the 2,677 residents of town can take solace in their strong economy. The unemployment rate sits at 1.7% and the median income hovers at $78,438. Overall, it ranks as the 9th worst place to live in North Dakota for 2021.

With that financial base, why does the city end up on this list? Because of a demolished oil-can tower? Not exactly. Instead, the community suffers from a thin diversity and a lack of amenities.

It may have only 48,261 people, but Minot serves as a major commercial and cultural center for its region. Located in the north-central part of the state, the town has a surprising number of attractions, including the Dakota Territory Air Museum and the Taube Museum of Art.

Minot also has a serviceable economy. The unemployment rate sits at just 2.7%, while the median income comes in at $66,194.

There are some issues however. Not everyone in the area shares in the prosperity. The poverty rate hangs at 10.9%. At the same time, the cost of living stands 10% above the national average. With a median home price of $208,700, Minot has an extremely expensive housing market for North Dakota.