Ranked from official statistics; every city opens its own guide.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Among the 30 largest places in North Dakota, Fargo has the most residents (131,627), followed by Bismarck and Grand Forks. Click any column to sort; click a city for its guide.
Across the 30 places in North Dakota that we cover, the median is 4,588 and the average 17,455; the figure runs from 131,627 (Fargo) to 1,782 (Langdon). That is a spread of 73.9 times between the two ends.
The first five are Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo. A high or low position is not good or bad on its own: size brings more employers and services but also longer commutes and more competition for housing. Use the Compare tab on each city page to see how two places differ across income, rent, commute and education, and check the county page for the local job market.
| # ⇅ | City ⇅ | County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo | Cass County | 131,627 | $66,998 | $946 |
| 2 | Bismarck | Burleigh County | 75,556 | $78,387 | $999 |
| 3 | Grand Forks | Grand Forks County | 59,042 | $63,627 | $980 |
| 4 | Minot | Ward County | 47,791 | $73,219 | $973 |
| 5 | West Fargo | Cass County | 40,094 | $90,665 | $1,111 |
| 6 | Williston | Williams County | 28,056 | $79,381 | $1,122 |
| 7 | Dickinson | Stark County | 25,357 | $82,696 | $957 |
| 8 | Mandan | Morton County | 24,522 | $71,780 | $1,083 |
| 9 | Jamestown | Stutsman County | 15,787 | $56,554 | $773 |
| 10 | Wahpeton | Richland County | 8,010 | $62,750 | $751 |
| 11 | Devils Lake | Ramsey County | 7,308 | $43,220 | $711 |
| 12 | Valley City | Barnes County | 6,541 | $60,339 | $780 |
| 13 | Watford City | McKenzie County | 6,039 | $102,260 | $1,336 |
| 14 | Minot AFB (unincorporated) | Ward County | 4,878 | $62,500 | $1,431 |
| 15 | Horace | Cass County | 4,588 | $138,578 | $2,146 |
| 16 | Lincoln | Burleigh County | 4,381 | $87,652 | $950 |
| 17 | Grafton | Walsh County | 4,102 | $62,679 | $733 |
| 18 | Beulah | Mercer County | 3,040 | $76,848 | $1,075 |
| 19 | Casselton | Cass County | 2,953 | $73,259 | $814 |
| 20 | New Town | Mountrail County | 2,721 | $52,500 | $851 |
| 21 | Rugby | Pierce County | 2,481 | $50,365 | $853 |
| 22 | Hazen | Mercer County | 2,453 | $79,609 | $918 |
| 23 | Lisbon | Ransom County | 2,259 | $64,327 | $649 |
| 24 | Bottineau | Bottineau County | 2,205 | $65,905 | $840 |
| 25 | Carrington | Foster County | 2,168 | $77,171 | $778 |
| 26 | Stanley | Mountrail County | 2,097 | $109,573 | $1,144 |
| 27 | Grand Forks AFB (unincorporated) | Grand Forks County | 1,987 | $72,782 | $1,626 |
| 28 | Mayville | Traill County | 1,976 | $55,735 | $854 |
| 29 | Oakes | Dickey County | 1,858 | $67,632 | $843 |
| 30 | Langdon | Cavalier County | 1,782 | $64,286 | $786 |
Cities With the Cheapest Rent · Cities With the Highest Household Income · Cities Where Rent Takes the Smallest Share of Income · Cities With the Lowest Unemployment · Cities in the Highest-Paying Counties · Most College-Educated Cities · Cities With the Most Homeowners · Cities With the Most Remote Work · Cities With the Shortest Commutes
Unincorporated places are census-designated places: they have no city government but are counted as communities. Figures describe the city itself.
Fargo, with 131,627 (among the 30 largest places; ACS 2020–2024).
The 30 largest places in North Dakota by population.