Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Montana instead of North Dakota, you would:
Health
be 14.3% less likely to be obese
In North Dakota, 37.1% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Montana, that number is 31.8% of people as of 2022.
be 12.2% less likely to have diabetes
In North Dakota, 9.0% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Montana, that number is 7.9% as of 2022.
Economy
make 33.2% less money
North Dakota has a GDP per capita of $79,272 as of 2024, while in Montana, the GDP per capita is $52,945 as of 2024.
be 48.0% more likely to be unemployed
In North Dakota, 2.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Montana, that number is 3.7% as of 2025.
be 14.0% more likely to live below the poverty line
In North Dakota, 10.0% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Montana, however, that number is 11.4% as of 2023.
Safety
be 66.8% 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 Montana, that number is 437 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 40.2% more for a home
The median home value in North Dakota is $241,100 as of 2023, compared to $338,100 in Montana as of 2023.
pay 10.4% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in North Dakota is $934 as of 2023, while in Montana, it is $1,031 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 13.4% less likely to be physically inactive
In North Dakota, 23.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Montana, that number is 20.7% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 4.5 years older on average
The median age in North Dakota is 35.7 years as of 2023. In Montana, the median age is 40.2 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 31.8% less densely populated
North Dakota has a population density of 4.4 people per sq km as of 2023. In Montana, that number is 3.0 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 12.6% 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 Montana, that number is 23.2% as of 2023.
commute 1.2 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in North Dakota takes 18.0 minutes as of 2023. In Montana, it takes 19.2 minutes as of 2023.
be 25.0% more likely to be uninsured
In North Dakota, 6.4% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Montana, that number is 8.0% as of 2023.
be 60.0% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In North Dakota, 2.5% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Montana, that number is 1.0% as of 2023.
be 54.7% more likely to be food insecure
In North Dakota, 5.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Montana, that number is 8.2% 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.
