North DakotaMoney Index August 2026
"Oil-rich, quietly wealthy."
North Dakota — Money Index — Key Facts
- Retirement: 6/10. North Dakota is workable for retirees (6/10) but not at the top of the pack.
- North Dakota Quirk. North Dakota's lowest income tax bracket shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.
- Business Climate: 7/10. North Dakota scores 7/10 on business climate with 5/10 for remote work — moderate runway for entrepreneurs.
- Remote Work: 5/10. North Dakota scores 5/10 for remote work — solid but not stand-out.
- Banking Access: 6/10. North Dakota scores 6/10 on banking access — fine for everyday accounts, worth shopping online HYSA rates to beat local offers.
- Tax Friendliness: 8/10. North Dakota's income-tax burden is light (8/10). Paychecks here go meaningfully further than in high-tax states.
- The Short Answer. North Dakota is a balanced state for money — lowest income tax bracket.
- Midwest Money Profile. North Dakota sits in the Midwest — and its personality is "The Steady Hand". Middle-of-the-pack on most factors — a balanced base for long-horizon wealth.
- Affordability: 7/10. North Dakota sits in the middle of the affordability pack (7/10).
- Inflation Resilience: 8/10. North Dakota weathers inflation better than most (8/10) — paychecks here hold their purchasing power.
North Dakota is a balanced state for money — lowest income tax bracket.
On our 1-10 money scorecards, North Dakota ranks 8/10 on tax friendliness, 7/10 on cost of living, and 6/10 on retirement — placing it #22 of 50 states overall.
How North Dakota scores across the board
Seven dimensions of household finance, scored 1-10. Higher is better in every category.
Money personality: The Steady Hand
Middle-of-the-pack on most factors — a balanced base for long-horizon wealth.
Four North Dakota money truths
North Dakota's state income tax burden is light (8/10) — paychecks here go meaningfully further than in high-tax states.
Cost of living scores 7/10 — North Dakota sits in the middle of the affordability pack.
Retirement friendliness 6/10 — workable for retirees but not at the top of the pack.
Business climate 7/10 with 5/10 for remote work — moderate runway for entrepreneurs and laptop-class earners.
"North Dakota's lowest income tax bracket shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences."
Money lessons from North Dakota
- 1
State tax policy is part of your investment strategy — not just where you live
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North Dakota money FAQ
Is North Dakota a good state for keeping your money?+
North Dakota scores 49 on our composite money index, with a the steady hand profile. North Dakota is a balanced state for money — lowest income tax bracket.
What is the state income tax in North Dakota?+
North Dakota has one of the lightest state income tax burdens in the country. On our 1-10 tax-friendliness scale (10 = no income tax), North Dakota scores 8.
Is North Dakota good for retirement?+
North Dakota scores 6/10 on retirement friendliness, factoring in tax treatment of Social Security and pension income, healthcare costs, and overall affordability for fixed-income households.
Is North Dakota good for business owners and remote workers?+
North Dakota scores 7/10 on business climate and 5/10 on remote-work suitability — covering tax incentives, talent pools, infrastructure and cost of doing business.
How affordable is North Dakota?+
North Dakota scores 7/10 on cost of living (10 = cheapest). Combined with 8/10 inflation resilience, that shapes how far paychecks stretch here.
What money personality fits North Dakota?+
The Steady Hand — Middle-of-the-pack on most factors — a balanced base for long-horizon wealth.
What's surprising about money in North Dakota?+
North Dakota's lowest income tax bracket shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.
