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Grand Forks, ND

Government town · 20.9% of jobs are government, including public universities (U.S. 12.1%)

East Grand Forks is part of the Grand Forks area. This page covers the whole metro.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Grand Forks

Red River Flood Grand Forks
Red River Flood Grand Forks · Photo: Ken Gardner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain
Chester Fritz Library summer
Chester Fritz Library summer · Photo: Jimmyjohnson90, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photograph
Photograph · Photo: Brenda Riskey, Public domain
LMGlasfiber Blade
LMGlasfiber Blade · Photo: Tuey from Flickr, CC BY 2.0
North Dakota Mill
North Dakota Mill · Photo: Schwerdf, CC BY 4.0
Ralph Engelstadt Arena
Ralph Engelstadt Arena · Photo: Elcajonfarms at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
St Michaels Church, Grand Forks ND
St Michaels Church, Grand Forks ND · Photo: Glorioussandwich, Public domain
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Where it is
Grand Forks
Grand Forks in North Dakota
North Dakota in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Grand Forks area.

14
grocery stores
42
restaurants
12
coffee shops
73
parks
77
playgrounds
3
libraries
2
movie theaters
5
live theaters
6
museums
5
bookstores
5
gyms
13
bars
1
pharmacy
2
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of the Grand Forks area.

Bike lanes and bike paths
87 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
88 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

What rent costs

Of about 17,763 rented homes in the Grand Forks area, 95% rent for under $2,000 a month and 99% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 55%
$1,000 to $1,499: 28%
$1,500 to $1,999: 12%
$2,000 to $2,499: 3%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 1%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in the Grand Forks area rents for under $1,000 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about under $2,000 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Your first weeks in North Dakota

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the North Dakota DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: North Dakota voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Public schools

7 public school districts in this county, with about 9,482 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Grand Forks 1 · Grand Forks
7,604 students · 11.7 students per teacher · 18 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Thompson 61 · Thompson
656 students · 14.9 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Larimore 44 · Larimore
390 students · 12.2 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Northwood 129 · Northwood
334 students · 13.4 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades K to 12
Midway 128 · Inkster
200 students · 8.7 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

North Dakota keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in North Dakota →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

One college in the county around Grand Forks. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

University of North Dakota · Grand Forks
Public, 4-year · 14,172 students · $10,951 in-state, $15,570 out-of-state

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$282,529
What a typical home sells for across the Grand Forks area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Average commute
17 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
None within 15 miles
No mapped data center buildings near the town center.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Homeowners insurance
About $2,982 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in ND. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
2 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
Fewer than 10 a year
The CDC doesn't publish exact counts under 10. ND average: 14.2 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$68,450
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.13% of home value a year
About $1,130 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 2.50%
ND's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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