Bismarck, ND Local Data & Statistics

State: ND

Total population: 75,556 Household income: $78,387 Rent: $999

Overview

Total population

75,556

Rent

$999

Year built

1985

Household income

$78,387

Per capita income

$45,788

Poverty rate

9.3%

Unemployment rate

2.3%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

38.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Dakota

Total population

75,556

Adults over 25

52,397

Total households

33,130

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$78,387

Per capita income

$45,788

Poverty rate

9.3%

Unemployment rate

2.3%

Rent over 30% of income

38.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$999

Year built

1985

Households that rent

34.5%

Households that own

65.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

83.8%

Black

2.6%

Asian

1.2%

Two or more races

6.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

3.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

96.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

92.4%

Commute time to work

16 mins

Work from home

7.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

22.9%

High school graduate or GED

22.1%

Some college or associate degree

15.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

39.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Bismarck, ND with: North Dakota United States

Bismarck, ND

Total population75,556

Rent$999

Year built1985

Household income$78,387

Per capita income$45,788

Poverty rate9.3%

Unemployment rate2.3%

North Dakota State

Total population784,841

Rent$954

Year built1982

Household income$76,657

Per capita income$43,389

Poverty rate10.8%

Unemployment rate2.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityBismarck, ND	StateNorth Dakota	CountryUnited States
Total population	75,556	784,841	334,922,499
Rent	$999	$954	$1,413
Year built	1985	1982	1980
Household income	$78,387	$76,657	$80,734
Per capita income	$45,788	$43,389	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.3%	10.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.3%	2.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Bismarck, ND, North Dakota and United States →

Summary for Bismarck, ND

Bismarck is located in North Dakota.

Rent & Income

In Bismarck, the typical monthly rent is $999 and the typical household income is $78,387. Rent here is similar to North Dakota and lower than the U.S., and household income is similar to both North Dakota and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 9.3%, which is lower than in both North Dakota and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 34.5% of households. Around 38.2% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 39.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.3%, which is similar to North Dakota and lower than the national rate.

Bismarck, ND — Rent vs Household Income

Bismarck, ND — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Bismarck, ND (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $999 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Bismarck, ND

Annual Household Income: $78,387

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Bismarck, ND

Estimated Rate: 9.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Bismarck, ND

In Bismarck, ND, households that rent: 11,438 (34.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,438	34.5%
Owner-Occupied	21,692	65.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Bismarck, ND

In Bismarck, ND, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,366 (38.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,366	38.2%
Other renter households	7,072	61.8%
Total renter households	11,438	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Bismarck, ND

Less than High School: 11,987 people (22.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 11,595 people (22.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 8,267 people (15.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 20,548 people (39.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 52,397

📊 Unemployment Rate in Bismarck, ND

Estimated Rate: 2.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Missoula, MT75,600 Apple Valley, CA75,478 Mansfield, TX75,398 Redmond, WA75,721 Pawtucket, RI75,280 Iowa City, IA75,264 Pittsburg, CA75,868 Missouri City, TX75,234 Daytona Beach, FL75,924 Broomfield, CO75,110

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.