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Ranking 48th out of the 50 U.S. states in terms of population, North Dakota is unspoiled by industrialization and remains an agricultural leader known for its vast acres of farmland devoted mostly to raising cattle, wheat, soybeans, sunflowers and flax.

The state's severe extremes in weather, ranging from hot summers to stark and forbidding winters, is sometimes cited as the reason for the state's relative underpopulation. More recently, the lack of jobs for younger people with college degrees is more often seen as the reason for North Dakota's continued decline in population.

• Demographics : (North Dakota Census Data)
  Major cities: Bismarck (capital), Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Dickinson
  Population : 635,867
  White : 92.3%
  Black, African American : 0.8%
  Hispanic : 1.6%
  High school graduates : 83.9%
  Bachelor's degree or higher : 22%
  Average household income: $39,233
  
  
• Crime : see North Dakota Crime Rates 1960 -2005
  
  
• Cost of Living: Sperling's Best Places - North Dakota - Compared to the rest of the country, North Dakota's cost of living is 20.59% lower than the U.S. average.
  
  
• Property Taxes : North Dakota Tax Climate - At the state level, North Dakota collected $1,478,000 in property taxes during FY 2004, making its combined state/local property taxes $584,622,000. That brings its per capita collection to $919, ranking it 31st nationally.
  
  
• Housing & Real Estate Overview
  Home ownership rate : 66.6%
  Average home price : $144,800
  Average travel time to work : 15.8 minutes
  
  
• Schools : see North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
  
  
• Weather : Regulated by cold winds from the Canadian north, and warmer tropical fronts from the south, North Dakota's weather extremes range from heavy snows and blizzard conditions in winter, to mild and sometimes oppressively hot temperatures in summer. Spring and early summer can also pose a threat of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
  

More about relocating to North Dakota around the Web:

North Dakota City Data Forums - Busy message boards with related tips & advice on cost of living, jobs & housing in Fargo, Bismark, Minot, Dickinson, and other towns & cities across the state.

Visiting or moving to Fargo - The offiical city site guide with links to information on schools & colleges, real estate & apartment brokers, job listings.

Info for People Living in Bismarck - Part of the Bismarck city portal with links to city services, schools, related FAQ.

North Dakota Real Estate, Apartments & Job Classifieds:

• Bismarck: Tribune
• Fargo: Forum
• Dickinson: Press

also see -> North Dakota Beaches | North Dakota Eviction Laws

North Dakota Taxes | North Dakota Tourist Attractions

North Dakota Wine Tours | Christmas in North Dakota

also see in House & Home -> Apartment Renting | Buying Foreclosures

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