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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.

On the flip side, a 2011 poll by Businessweek ranked the Fargo area as the No. 1 best affordable place to live in the US, citing the availability of jobs, cost of living, and affordable housing as the major factors for it's attractiveness, along with quality of education, low crime rate, and air quality.

Major North Dakota employers include the state and federal governments, health care insurance companies, schools, and hospitals found mainly in the larger population areas of Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks.

North Dakota quality-of-life statistics

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

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

Personal Income Taxes: North Dakota imposes state income taxes ranging from 1.51 percent to 3.99 percent and are assessed over five income brackets. Residents are required to file state income taxes using form ND-1 each year by April 15.

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.

Crime : see North Dakota Crime Rates

More about relocating to North Dakota around the Web:

Welcome to North Dakota - Featuring facts, statistics and information on housing affordability, major cities, and virtual tours of top attractions.

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

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

Working in Bismarck - Part of the Bismarck city portal with information to city services, job opportunities, mass transit, parking.

North Dakota real estate, apartments & job classifieds:

Bismarck: Tribune
Fargo: Forum
Dickinson: Press