Population 92,219 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bismarck
Household size in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Bismarck is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.43, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.9 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.6 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.1 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | −0.8 | +2.3 |
At 40.1, the median age in Bismarck is the same as the national median, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in North Dakota overall, where the median age is 37.4. The median age has climbed from 37.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only two of the 14 North Dakota cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.9% of households in Bismarck, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only two of the 14 North Dakota cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bismarck
Renters in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.2% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.0% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.6% | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Bismarck rent their homes (30.6%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than four in ten owners (43.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only one other North Dakota city with 5,000+ people has a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Bismarck than nationally: 5.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Only one other North Dakota city with 5,000+ people has a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +11 | +6 |
Bismarck has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $631 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $783 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,024 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,168 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$537 | +$458 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Bismarck costs $1,168 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in North Dakota overall ($1,031). Rent has climbed $537 a month since 2006–10, up 85%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bismarck
Bachelor's degrees in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.8% | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.5% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.8% | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.9% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Bismarck than nationally: 39.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.4% | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Bismarck: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of North Dakota. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.9 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bismarck
| Period | Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.8% | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.5% | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Bismarck has been strong: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bismarck compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | 2.40 | 40.1 | 7.9% | 30.6% | 5.9% | 1990 | $1,168 | 39.9% | 94.9% | 2.1% |
| Lincoln | 2.74 | 33.5 | 11.9% | 4.2% | 0.9% | 2000 | $1,026 | 29.5% | 97.6% | 1.5% |
| Mandan | 2.41 | 37.3 | 9.1% | 28.2% | 8.5% | 1989 | $1,053 | 29.9% | 95.0% | 1.5% |
| Livona | 2.62 | 25.1 | 6.3% | 2.8% | 1.2% | 1985 | $1,251 | 44.4% | 97.2% | 2.1% |
| Menoken | 3.07 | 39.7 | 5.7% | 5.8% | 4.2% | 1998 | $623 | 35.3% | 95.4% | 3.6% |
| Baldwin | 2.70 | 42.2 | 7.2% | 9.1% | 7.4% | 1984 | $1,379 | 36.0% | 96.2% | 0.4% |
| Huff | 2.78 | 41.9 | 5.7% | 5.5% | 9.0% | 1991 | $711 | 35.8% | 95.0% | 2.6% |
| Price | 2.69 | 41.5 | 3.2% | 7.9% | 8.2% | 1990 | $1,000 | 27.0% | 95.8% | 2.8% |
| St. Anthony | 2.37 | 42.7 | 4.4% | 10.7% | 12.5% | 1977 | $1,068 | 32.0% | 92.5% | 0.5% |
| Mckenzie | 2.72 | 38.6 | 9.0% | 14.0% | 8.6% | 1982 | $1,762 | 35.7% | 94.5% | 0.9% |
| Judson | 2.75 | 39.8 | 2.5% | 3.2% | 6.0% | 1993 | $1,041 | 19.8% | 96.3% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
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About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bismarck. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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