Bismarck ND vs Huntington WV — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Bismarck, ND

North Dakota · Population: 74,146

  • Median HH Income$77,608
  • Median Home Price$373,227
  • Unemployment3.6%
  • Bachelor's+38.7%

Huntington, WV

West Virginia · Population: 46,189

  • Median HH Income$43,146
  • Median Home Price$138,553
  • Unemployment7.6%
  • Bachelor's+34.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Bismarck
74,146
Bismarck +
Huntington
46,189
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bismarck
N/A
Huntington
N/A
Median Age
Bismarck
38.2
Huntington
34.9
Huntington +
Foreign Born
Bismarck
3.6%
Bismarck +
Huntington
1.8%
White
Bismarck
84.8%
Huntington
85.0%
Huntington +
Black
Bismarck
2.5%
Huntington
6.5%
Huntington +
Asian
Bismarck
1.0%
Huntington
1.3%
Huntington +
Hispanic
Bismarck
3.2%
Bismarck +
Huntington
2.0%
Spanish at Home
Bismarck
N/A
Huntington
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bismarck
$77,608
Bismarck +
Huntington
$43,146
Per Capita Income
Bismarck
$44,475
Bismarck +
Huntington
$30,024
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bismarck
$71,089
Bismarck +
Huntington
$50,163
Unemployment Rate
Bismarck
3.6%
Bismarck +
Huntington
7.6%
Poverty Rate
Bismarck
9.7%
Bismarck +
Huntington
27.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Bismarck
38.7%
Bismarck +
Huntington
34.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bismarck
$373,227
Huntington
$138,553
Huntington +
Homeownership Rate
Bismarck
65.8%
Bismarck +
Huntington
52.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bismarck
288
Bismarck +
Huntington
398
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bismarck
2037
Huntington
1999
Huntington +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bismarck
35.2%
Bismarck +
Huntington
46.4%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bismarck
9.4%
Bismarck +
Huntington
15.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bismarck
13.3%
Bismarck +
Huntington
24.0%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bismarck
6.6%
Bismarck +
Huntington
9.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bismarck
20.4%
Huntington
13.7%
Huntington +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bismarck
12.0%
Bismarck +
Huntington
20.6%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bismarck
42.4°F
Bismarck +
Huntington
56.1°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bismarck
19.6 in
Bismarck +
Huntington
43.1 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bismarck
8.6 µg/m³
Bismarck +
Huntington
9.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bismarck
75.0%
Bismarck +
Huntington
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bismarck
16.7 min
Bismarck +
Huntington
20.2 min

Which City is Right for You?

Bismarck leads in median household income at $77,608, while huntington offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $138,553. On public safety, Bismarck is safer with a violent crime rate of 288 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Huntington. Bismarck has a lower unemployment rate at 3.6%, and Bismarck has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bismarck scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Bismarck & Huntington