C+

Garrison, ND

Source:

Affordability Score: 64/100

Population: 2,449 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Garrison, ND aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 2,449 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (64/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $76,319, median home value of $228,000, median rent of $643 per month, and 20.8% 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 $873 per month (studio $760, 1BR $796, 3BR $1,214, 4BR $1,464). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,184 per year, consuming 15% 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 Garrison, ND include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 0.3% and poverty 10.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$76,319
Median household income
Education F
20.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.0x
Home value $228,000 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A+
$873/mo
2BR fair market rent (14% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C-
$11,184/yr
Center-based infant care (15% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$76,319
▲ 23% vs national
Per Capita Income
$41,887
Unemployment Rate
0.3%
Poverty Rate
10.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$228,000
▼ 17% vs national
Median Rent
$643/mo
Owner Occupied
86.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$873/mo
▼ 27% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$760
1BR
$796
2BR
$873
3BR
$1,214
4BR
$1,464

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
20.8%
▼ 9 ppt vs national
High School+
54.4%
Median Age
54.5
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,184/yr
15% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,219/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,468/yr
School-Age (Center)
$9,175/yr

What This Means

Garrison, ND receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (64/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 2,449. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Garrison, ND affordable?
Garrison, ND receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (64/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $76,319. Median home value is $228,000.
What is the cost of living in Garrison?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $643/mo. 2BR fair market rent $873/mo. Infant childcare $11,184/yr. Median home value $228,000.
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 →