Apartments for Rent in North Dakota

North Dakota

North Dakota is a rich combination of prairie, wetlands, hills and forest. This northern state also has some of the most severe climate swings in the U.S., so it's best suited to those who enjoy four seasons that include hot summers and cold, snowy winters. With well over half the population living in small towns or rural areas, apartments in North Dakota aren't as plentiful as in most states. When you find an apartment here, however, it's generally in good shape with plenty of amenities.

North Dakota's economy is heavily agricultural, with durum wheat, barley, oats and flax seed being major exports. Also important are sunflowers and canola. The production of food products from these crops (such as canola oil and pasta) is a small part of the economy as well. Second to agriculture is the mining of lignite and soft coal, with some increase recently in electricity production.

Outdoor Attractions

You can find plenty to do outdoors in North Dakota, which has miles of forestlands, three major rivers (the Missouri, James and Red Rivers) and several small lakes. Most popular are rural, seasonal activities such as hunting, fishing and snow mobiling. Ice fishing is especially popular and draws visitors from surrounding states to take advantage of the abundance of wall-eye, perch and northern pike.

The hot summers, excellent for crops, also contribute to the many rich public gardens across the state. Boating is popular along the rivers, although swimming isn't as popular due to the rocky shorelines.

Colleges and Universities

The North Dakota University System supports eleven public universities, which is a considerable number considering the population of the state is only about 635,000. There are also five tribal colleges and four private colleges. There is currently a movement toward getting college graduates to remain in the state through incentives such as reduced college costs and partial loan forgiveness.

Real Estate and Housing

If you enjoy small town life, you can definitely afford it here, with North Dakota apartment costs averaging 13% below the national average. The cost of living in North Dakota can be as much as 29% below the average, making apartment rentals even more affordable when you factor in groceries, utilities and other necessities. The best places to look for apartments are in North Dakota's largest cities such as Bismarck, Jamestown and Fargo. With several railway hubs in Fargo, this is one of the best places to find both jobs and reasonably priced, modern apartments.