City Report · ND

Dickinson

Pop. 25,357·4th most expensive in North Dakota·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,244/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.1%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$688
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Dickinson · $1,244
More affordable than 91% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
18% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,244/mo, rent takes about 18% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$50,000/yr
Local median income
$82,696/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Dickinson's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$850
1 BR
$850
2 BR
$1,020
3 BR
$1,430
4 BR+
$1,710
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,020/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,244 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Recent direction

Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($82,696) is $2,067 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,710).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Dickinson. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$14,928/yr
At $1,244/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+1.1% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Dickinson, ND is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 31.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
25,357
Median income
$82,696
Median age
33.3
Renters
39%
Age distribution
27.8%
25.4%
23.7%
12.8%
Under 1827.8%
18–3425.4%
35–5423.7%
55–6410.4%
65+12.8%
Gender
51.6%
48.4%
Male51.6%
Female48.4%
Race & ethnicity
83.4%
White83.4%
Black3%
Hispanic9.1%
Asian1.4%
Other3.1%
Education (25+)
31.3%
29.3%
31.9%
No HS diploma7.5%
HS diploma31.3%
Some college29.3%
Bachelor's+31.9%
Housing tenure
61%
39%
Owner61%
Renter39%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Dickinson, ND has changed in 5 years

Income
$64,806 → $82,696
up 27.6%
Population
24,851 → 25,357
up 2.0%
Renter share
43.3% → 39%
-4.3 pts
Bachelor's+
26.3% → 31.9%
+5.6 pts

Household income in the area moved from $64,806 to $82,696 across the same window, up 27.6% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 24,851 to 25,357 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.0% change. About 39% of households rent today, against 43.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 26.3% to 31.9%.

Community

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View Dickinson rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Dickinson on your salary?

At $1,244/mo, how Dickinson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Dickinson rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Dickinson. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Dickinson

About renting in Dickinson, ND

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Dickinson is $1,244/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $850/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,020/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $850/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,430/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($82,696/yr), Dickinson ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Dickinson?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,244/mo in Dickinson. The local median household income is $82,696/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Dickinson?

Rent in Dickinson has risen 1.1% over the past year.

How does Dickinson rent compare to other cities in North Dakota?

Dickinson is one of the pricier among North Dakota cities for rent, ranking #4 of 11 tracked cities at $1,244/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Dickinson?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Dickinson ($1,244/mo) include Watford City ($1,236/mo).
Income Affordability
18%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,244/mo, rent takes ~18% of Dickinson's median household income ($82,696/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Dickinson 18%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1.1–2.5%
Run the Dickinson affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Dickinson, ND

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