The Town FilesBismarck, North Dakota
City in Burleigh County · population 73,622 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $300,300
- Household income
- $78,387
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 38.9
Bismarck is a city of 73,622 people in Burleigh County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $300,300, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of North Dakota towns, more upscale than 91% of North Dakota towns, more walkable than 89% of North Dakota towns.
How Bismarck ranks
Percentile among North Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bismarck is worth $300,300, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $78,387, which is more affordable than 9% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $999 a month. 65.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bismarck | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $300,300 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $999 | $775 |
| Median household income | $78,387 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 65.5% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Bismarck
| People | Bismarck | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 15.6 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 87.3% |
Weather in Bismarck
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 3.8°F. About 20.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.5 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bismarck since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 30, 1981 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 27, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 177 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 29, 2024.
Severe weather in Burleigh County since 1996
Burleigh County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4888: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1981: Flooding |
| April 7, 2011 | Flood | EM-3318: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Burleigh County
Burleigh County had 58,033 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,464 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Bismarck itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Bismarck
28 public schools with 13,581 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEGACY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,411 | 16.2 |
| CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,401 | 16.7 |
| BISMARCK HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,371 | 16.1 |
| HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,059 | 14.5 |
| SIMLE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,047 | 14.3 |
| WACHTER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,007 | 15.3 |
| VICTOR SOLHEIM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 586 | 15.4 |
| ELK RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 516 | 19.1 |
| LIBERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 492 | 17.0 |
| ROBERT PLACE MILLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 481 | 15.0 |
| SUNRISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 465 | 15.0 |
| NORTHRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 423 | 13.2 |
Towns near Bismarck
- Lincoln, ND4.8 mi · 4,257 people · home $278,900
- Mandan, ND5.7 mi · 24,206 people · home $259,800
- Wilton, ND23.7 mi · 718 people · home $215,900
Bismarck questions
Is Bismarck, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bismarck scores better for retirees than 39% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 15%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Bismarck?
The median owner-occupied home in Bismarck is valued at $300,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,387, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $999 a month.
What is the weather like in Bismarck?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 3.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.4 inches of precipitation a year and 50.5 inches of snow.
Does Bismarck get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bismarck since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 30, 1981. The typical North Dakota town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)