Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Massachusetts instead of North Dakota, you would:
Health
live 2.1 years longer
In North Dakota, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Massachusetts, that number is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020.
be 22.4% less likely to be obese
In North Dakota, 37.1% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Massachusetts, that number is 28.8% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 10.9% more money
North Dakota has a GDP per capita of $79,272 as of 2024, while in Massachusetts, the GDP per capita is $87,892 as of 2024.
be 88.0% more likely to be unemployed
In North Dakota, 2.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Massachusetts, that number is 4.7% as of 2025.
Safety
be 43.4% less likely to be a victim of property crime
North Dakota has a property crime rate of 1,904 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 1,077 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 17.3% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
North Dakota has a violent crime rate of 262 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 308 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 33.4% more money
The median household income in North Dakota is $75,949 as of 2023, while in Massachusetts, it is $101,341 as of 2023.
pay 2.2 times more for a home
The median home value in North Dakota is $241,100 as of 2023, compared to $525,800 in Massachusetts as of 2023.
pay 80.6% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in North Dakota is $934 as of 2023, while in Massachusetts, it is $1,687 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 59.4% less likely to be uninsured
In North Dakota, 6.4% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 2.6% as of 2023.
be 24.7% less likely to smoke
In North Dakota, 16.2% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Massachusetts, that number is 12.2% as of 2022.
be 10.9% less likely to be physically inactive
In North Dakota, 23.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Massachusetts, that number is 21.3% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 4.3 years older on average
The median age in North Dakota is 35.7 years as of 2023. In Massachusetts, the median age is 40.0 years as of 2023.
be 56.3% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In North Dakota, 20.6% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 32.2% as of 2023.
be 3.2 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In North Dakota, 2.5% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 7.9% as of 2023.
commute 11.3 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in North Dakota takes 18.0 minutes as of 2023. In Massachusetts, it takes 29.3 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 79.1 times more densely populated
North Dakota has a population density of 4.4 people per sq km as of 2023. In Massachusetts, that number is 348.0 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 49.1% more likely to be food insecure
In North Dakota, 5.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Massachusetts, that number is 7.9% as of 2021.
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.
