B

Dickinson, ND

Source:

Affordability Score: 71/100

Population: 21,078 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Dickinson, ND aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 21,078 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B (71/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $85,821, median home value of $278,800, median rent of $962 per month, and 31.4% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,056 per month (studio $869, 1BR $874, 3BR $1,469, 4BR $1,771). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,415 per year, consuming 13% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Dickinson, ND include commute, rent. Unemployment currently reads 2.9% and poverty 12.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$85,821
Median household income
Education C-
31.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.2x
Home value $278,800 vs income
Commute A-
17 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$1,056/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C
$11,415/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$85,821
▲ 38% vs national
Per Capita Income
$40,962
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Poverty Rate
12.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$278,800
▲ 1% vs national
Median Rent
$962/mo
Owner Occupied
64.6%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,056/mo
▼ 12% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$869
1BR
$874
2BR
$1,056
3BR
$1,469
4BR
$1,771

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
31.4%
▲ 1 ppt vs national
High School+
61.8%
Median Age
34.2
Avg. Commute
17 min
▼ 9 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,415/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,411/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,664/yr
School-Age (Center)
$9,584/yr

What This Means

Dickinson, ND receives an overall affordability grade of B (71/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 21,078. This area performs well in commute and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Dickinson ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Dickinson, ND affordable?
Dickinson, ND receives an overall affordability grade of B (71/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $85,821. Median home value is $278,800.
What is the cost of living in Dickinson?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $962/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,056/mo. Infant childcare $11,415/yr. Median home value $278,800.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →