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Williston, ND

Photo: Wikipedia

Williston, ND

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 42
Population27,964
Foreign Born5.8%
Population Density1,087people per mi²
Median Age31.9 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2010, this city has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

94/100

6% below national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Williston, North Dakota

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $18k$33k
Comfortable $51k$75k
Luxury $152k+$236k+
Elite (Top 5%) $182k+$283k+
Affordability Ratio

112%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean94%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
12
Positive
8
Poor
1
Negative
0

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

0.7mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

0.2mi

Airport

Ring Rock Ranch Airport 4NA1

7.4mi

Post Office

USPS — Williston, ND

0.1mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf2Nearest 3.4 mi
Camping20Nearest 17.9 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 94.7 mi
Gun Range6Nearest 0.2 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C+
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$84k+4.9%
12% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$879k
34% above US avg
College Educated
25.7%
27% below US avg
WFH
2.6%
82% below US avg
Homeownership
50.9%
22% below US avg
Median Home
$263k
7% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C+
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
22.0
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+39.1%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+47.0%
Homicide
0.04 / 1k Residents150% above state avg
Robbery
0.28 / 1k Residents52% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
3.41 / 1k Residents112% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr+31.2%
Burglary
2.47 / 1k Residents26% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
13.72 / 1k Residents28% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.50 / 1k Residents3% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+18Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Williston, North Dakota
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Inherited from parent state — no local data available.

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B
Fair8.8% of income
Property Rights
B-
GoodIJ Grade B-
Firearm Rights
B
GoodFPC Grade B
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Net exporter (500% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A-
Broadly LegalMedical + Decrim.

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone4A~-27°F min
Growing Season156 days188 frost-free
Annual Rainfall16.5"
Elevation1,883 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great1537 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,087/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
C
WeakCold Wave
Border / Coast
B+
Goodborder 59 mi · coast 862 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$24.9M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityMinneapolis430k people are 538 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital162 miBismarck, ND
Nearest Prison0.0 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:51:42.000Z

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