Relocation profile · Federal data
Bismarck, ND
LiveAbility 68.2/100 places Bismarck #9 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 91.0
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,175
- 2BR rent / mo
- $70,851
- Median salary
- 68.2
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Bismarck ranks #9 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (68.2/100), with its strongest marks in schools and low hazard.
- #9
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 796,568
- metro-area population
- 257
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 499
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (1/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Bismarck ranks #9 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 91.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,175/mo, median salary $70,851; LiveAbility Score 68.2/100, strongest in schools and low hazard.
Signature: LiveAbility 68.2/100 places Bismarck #9 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 91.0 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,175/mo.
LiveAbility 68.2/100 puts Bismarck in the top third (#9 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Bismarck area is 64,970.
Bismarck vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
68 Top 2% higher than 98% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Bismarck housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Bismarck MSA; housing RPP 84.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,175/mo.
Bismarck wages and employment
Bismarck posts 64,970 total employment with median salary $70,851 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $81,120 |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,730 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,940 |
| General and Operations Managers | $93,540 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,850 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Bismarck area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Bismarck area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Bismarck's composite Life Score is 55.2/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Bismarck ranks #9 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 68.2/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Bismarck - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
98 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
76 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
73 /100
- Job market
Job market
72 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
69 /100
- Housing
Housing
68 /100
- Safety
Safety
67 /100
- Climate 1
Climate
1 /100
What this shows Bismarck's strongest dimensions are schools and low hazard; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 1/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Bismarck to
Metros near Bismarck on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Bismarck on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Bismarck cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Bismarck wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Bismarck?
Bismarck runs a $70,851 median salary at a 91.0 cost index, ranking #9 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Bismarck's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Bismarck head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Bismarck
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.