A map of North Dakota will show you that it is a sparsely populated state in the upper Midwest on the Canadian border. What a map won't show you is that North Dakota can be a truly amazing place to live. It contains the geographic center of the North American Continent. It is known for bitterly cold winter weather and an agricultural economic base. The largest cities are Fargo, and the capital which is Bismarck. The state population is approximately 760,000, making it the third least populous in the nation. North Dakota has some of the lowest crime rankings of all 50 states, making it a very safe place to live. North Dakota has 15 colleges and universities, and four tribal community colleges. 83% of residents have a high school education or better.
Commuting in the majority of North Dakota cities can be difficult, as public transportation is not readily available. Only 2% of the workforce travels to work by these means, while a full 25% walks or rides a bike. Mean commuting time is a mere 16 minutes. North Dakota generally trails the average mean income a bit, but the cost of living also tends to be lower than in many states, making it an economical place to live. The median cost of a home is $165,000 with 66% of families owning their own homes. The unemployment rate is under 2%. Most jobs are in agriculture, petroleum and food processing. Wind energy production is poised to become a larger component of the state's economy.
