The typical owner-occupied home in Bismarck is worth about $300,300, 20% above the North Dakota median of $249,900 and 10% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,023 a year in property taxes, about 1.01% of their home's value, close to the North Dakota rate of 0.99%. The median household earns $78,387 a year, so the median home costs 3.8 times the median income (3.3 times for North Dakota). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Bismarck at a glance
| Bismarck | North Dakota | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $300,300 | $249,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,023 | $2,468 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.01% | 0.99% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $78,387 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 65% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 54% | 52% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,847 | $1,762 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.6% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $999 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 24.3% | 25.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1985 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.3% | 12.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 75,556 | 784,841 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Bismarck
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Bismarck home of $300,300 with 20% down costs about $1,994 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,494, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $85,457 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Bismarck household income of $78,387; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $275,000.
The median rent here is $999 a month, so owning the median home costs about $995 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $60,060 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $240,240 |
| Principal and interest | $1,616 |
| Property taxes (1.01% a year) | $253 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $125 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,994 |
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| Down payment | $10,510 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $294,861 |
| Principal and interest | $1,984 |
| Property taxes (1.01% a year) | $253 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $125 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $133 |
| Total per month | $2,494 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Bismarck
What is the median home value in Bismarck?
About $300,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Bismarck?
Homeowners pay a median $3,023 a year, which is about 1.01% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Bismarck?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,994 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $85,457 a year.
More about Bismarck
- Mortgage Refinance in Bismarck
- Debt Relief in Bismarck
- Home Equity Loans in Bismarck
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data