Is North Dakota or South Dakota a better state to live in?

Based on our composite scoring, South Dakota ranks higher overall. North Dakota is #6 and South Dakota is #3 out of 50 states. North Dakota wins 3 of 11 categories, while South Dakota wins 8.

How does North Dakota compare to South Dakota in cost of living?

North Dakota has a cost of living index of 89, while South Dakota's is 88 (100 = national average). South Dakota is more affordable.

Which state is safer, North Dakota or South Dakota?

North Dakota has 267 violent crimes per 100K residents, vs 330 in South Dakota. North Dakota has the lower crime rate.

What are the median incomes in North Dakota vs South Dakota?

North Dakota's median household income is $72,583, compared to $72,280 in South Dakota.

North Dakota vs South Dakota: Side-by-Side (2026)

North Dakota

#6·Midwest

77.1Composite Score

VSSouth Dakota leads

A+

South Dakota

#3·Midwest

80.2Composite Score

3ND wins

8SD wins

Category Overlay

North DakotaSouth Dakota

Category Scores

💰 EconomySD +2.6

67.7

70.3

🛡️ SafetyND +8.4

71.1

62.7

🏥 HealthND +12.2

65.3

53.1

🎓 EducationSD +8.2

81.6

89.8

💼 Fiscal HealthSD +6.5

69.8

76.3

📈 GrowthSD +9.7

53.7

63.4

🏠 AffordabilityND +0.2

84.7

84.5

🌿 EnvironmentSD +14.8

38.5

53.3

🏞️ Outdoor AccessSD +6.7

39.1

45.8

🚇 TransportationSD +8.1

39.9

48.0

🎭 LivabilitySD +7.0

47.3

54.3

Key Metrics Comparison

Metric	North Dakota	South Dakota	Winner
Population	783,926	919,318	SD
Median Income	$72,583	$72,280	ND
Unemployment	2.2%	2%	SD
Violent Crime Rate(per 100K)	267	330	ND
Cost of Living(100 = national avg)	89	88	SD
HS Graduation Rate	89%	85%	ND
Life Expectancy	79 yr	78.5 yr	ND
Pop Growth	+0.8%	+1%	SD

North Dakota vs South Dakota: How Do They Compare?

North Dakota ranks #6 overall with a composite score of 77.1, earning a A grade. South Dakota sits at #3 with 80.2 and a A+ grade. South Dakota has the edge overall, winning 8 of 11 categories.

On the economic front, North Dakota has 2.2% unemployment and a $72,583 median income, while South Dakota reports 2% unemployment and $72,280 median income.

For safety, North Dakota's violent crime rate is 267 per 100K compared to 330 in South Dakota. Cost of living favors South Dakota with an index of 88 vs 89.

Explore These States

North Dakota Full Profile77.1 South Dakota Full Profile80.2 Compare Other States→

Data Sources

📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024📎America's Health Rankings, 2025📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025📎National Park Service API, 2024📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022