Quality of life comparison
If you lived in North Dakota instead of Missouri, you would:
Health
live 1.8 years longer
In Missouri, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In North Dakota, that number is 77 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020.
be 13.5% less likely to have diabetes
In Missouri, 10.4% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In North Dakota, that number is 9.0% as of 2022.
Economy
make 40.7% more money
Missouri has a GDP per capita of $56,344 as of 2024, while in North Dakota, the GDP per capita is $79,272 as of 2024.
be 24.2% less likely to be unemployed
In Missouri, 3.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In North Dakota, that number is 2.5% as of 2025.
be 17.4% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Missouri, 12.1% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In North Dakota, however, that number is 10.0% as of 2023.
Safety
be 42.1% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Missouri has a violent crime rate of 453 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 262 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 10.2% more money
The median household income in Missouri is $68,920 as of 2023, while in North Dakota, it is $75,949 as of 2023.
pay 11.8% more for a home
The median home value in Missouri is $215,600 as of 2023, compared to $241,100 in North Dakota as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 5.7 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Missouri takes 23.7 minutes as of 2023. In North Dakota, it takes 18.0 minutes as of 2023.
be 28.1% less likely to be uninsured
In Missouri, 8.9% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 6.4% as of 2023.
be 12.9% less likely to smoke
In Missouri, 18.6% of adults smoke as of 2022. In North Dakota, that number is 16.2% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 87.4% less densely populated
Missouri has a population density of 34.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 4.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 19.0% more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Missouri, 2.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 2.5% as of 2023.
be 53.5% less likely to be food insecure
In Missouri, 11.4% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In North Dakota, that number is 5.3% as of 2021.
live among residents who are 3.2 years older on average
The median age in Missouri is 38.9 years as of 2023. In North Dakota, the median age is 35.7 years as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
