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I am considering relocation to ND in the hope of finding entry-level office work. I don't think oilfield towns are a very good bet for me due to the housing shortages. What are the pros and cons of Bismarck vs. Fargo?
Bismarck:
-Warmer (but it's all relative)
-More scenic (proximity to Badlands is nice)
-More expensive
-Potential for stronger wage growth given state capital and proximity to Bakken
-More friendly (in my opinion)
-Slightly longer daylight in the evening
-Less humid during summer
-More hailstorms.
Fargo:
-Larger city yields more diverse shopping options.
-More traffic
-Larger university (events, athletics)
-Proximity to larger metro area (Twin Cities ~4hrs away, Winnipeg ~3hrs)
-Flatter than flat (dull in my opinion)
-Abundant housing
-Wage growth less impressive.
-More cultural diversity.
-Can get quite muggy during summer.
-Mosquitoes galore.
-Flood prone area. (Most of city protected but outside chance still there)
Fargo probably has more office type work but odds are it generally pays less than Bismarck. The flip side is the city is cheaper to live in. I'd personally shoot for Bismarck since I think the people are more friendly and the surrounding area is far more scenic (by North Dakota standards). Fargo residents are still a nice lot but there is some Prozac or something in western ND water as people seem more chipper out west.
F2tornado covered it well. Bismarck area is more scenic with some hills along the Missouri and overall terrain is more rolling. Area to the west of the Missouri is more rangeland and high Plains prairie and is close to the badlands. Bismarck has been growing fast over the past several years and adding a third high school. I have never lived there nor visited there much, but always heard good things about it. We had a family on our street move there and his line of work is landscaping and he felt Bismarck overall had better weather and more places for people to get out and walk/bike.
Fargo is the larger metro and as mentioned has several 4 yr colleges and thus an overall younger population and more diverse and a big selling point to some is closeness to Minnesota lakes country (1 hr east) and closeness to the Twin Cities. Fargo's economy is bigger overall due to a larger metro, but I think lately Bismarck growth is a bit more. That said Fargo housing and gas prices are usually the lowest in the state and apartment availability is much easier due to more choices.
Easy to rent an apt in Bismarck, also easy to purchase a home with decent credit. There are low or no down payment loans available. But the best reason to move to Bismarck is not just the job opportunities, it is the largest medical community between Minneapolis and Seattle. There are the best schools and retail. Many diverse restaurants, and entertainment.
Many retirees move here because our doctors still take medicare and provide the best care.
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