What do 760,000 North Dakota residents know that we don’t? Well, besides how lucky they are that they get to experience the four seasons in places like Devils Lake or that they have the World’s Largest Buffalo Monument in Jamestown, North Dakotans know that the Peace Garden State has some of the most family friendly places to live in America.
Not surprising, considering North Dakota is one of the best states in the country to raise a family. And, folks, this is most evident in North Dakota’s best places to raise a family for 2025. We suggest you take a look below at HomeSnacks’ list of North Dakota’s top ten most family friendly places: we’ve taken the guessing out of the equation.
How did we do it? We consulted the US Census on places in The Roughrider State with more than 1,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 27 family friendly cities. We discovered that North Dakota is the 19th largest in area, but the fourth smallest in population. That’s all the more reason to raise your family in this midwestern state: there’s plenty of room for your kids to run and there’s plenty of opportunity to make a difference.
Not surprising, all of this family friendly goodness has made the North Dakota the fastest growing state in the country. And we definitely think it’s because of the state’s Blue Ribbon elementary schools, gold star high schools, prestigious Universities, competitive jobs and salaries, and strong economy: all of the factors that one should consider when choosing a place to raise a family. So, if you’re looking for safe family friendly North Dakota cities and neighborhoods, take a look at our list below.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In North Dakota For 2025
- Oakes
- Thompson
- Cavalier
- Carrington
- West Fargo
- Rolla
- Garrison
- Stanley
- Lisbon
- Surrey
Want your family to safely wake up to big, beautiful open spaces in their backyard, great schools down the street, and endless, healthy activities at their disposal? HomeSnacks suggests that you look no further than North Dakota’s number one best place to raise a family, Oakes.
If you want to see how North Dakota’s other amazing best places to raise a family faired, take a look at the list below. And if you don’t see your favorite there, head to the bottom.
More reading about North Dakota and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In North Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Dakota
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In North Dakota For 2025
/10
Population: 2,046
Median Income: $64,750
Average Home Price: $160,100
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 47
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 34.1%
More on Oakes:
/10
Population: 1,092
Median Income: $110,909
Average Home Price: $274,000
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 49
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 35.4%
More on Thompson:
/10
Population: 1,304
Median Income: $57,188
Average Home Price: $155,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 55
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 27.2%
More on Cavalier:
/10
Population: 2,171
Median Income: $65,469
Average Home Price: $141,800
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 46
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 28.1%
More on Carrington:
/10
Population: 39,325
Median Income: $96,877
Average Home Price: $302,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 60
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 33.8%
More on West Fargo: Data
/10
Population: 1,164
Median Income: $52,841
Average Home Price: $121,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 34
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 42.4%
More on Rolla:
/10
Population: 1,456
Median Income: $68,646
Average Home Price: $181,800
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 35
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 27.6%
More on Garrison:
/10
Population: 2,089
Median Income: $105,893
Average Home Price: $241,300
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 63
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 30.9%
More on Stanley:
/10
Population: 2,262
Median Income: $61,953
Average Home Price: $185,700
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 30.1%
More on Lisbon:
/10
Population: 1,672
Median Income: $105,125
Average Home Price: $302,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 30
Closest Major City: Minneapolis
Households with kids: 38.5%
More on Surrey:
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in North Dakota anyways?
To give you the places in North Dakota that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of North Dakota, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 1,000 people. For North Dakota, that meant a total of 27 cities.
We updated this article for 2025. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in North Dakota.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In North Dakota
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in North Dakota ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in North Dakota are Oakes, Thompson, Cavalier, Carrington, West Fargo, Rolla, Garrison, Stanley, Lisbon, and Surrey.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles North Dakota according to the data:
- Tioga
- Kenmare
- Grafton
For more North Dakota reading, check out:
- Safest Places In North Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Dakota
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota
Best Places For Families In North Dakota
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakes, ND | 2,046 | $64,750 | $160,100 | 47 |
| 2 | Thompson, ND | 1,092 | $110,909 | $274,000 | 54 |
| 3 | Cavalier, ND | 1,304 | $57,188 | $155,500 | 34 |
| 4 | Carrington, ND | 2,171 | $65,469 | $141,800 | 38 |
| 5 | West Fargo, ND | 39,325 | $96,877 | $302,200 | 57 |
| 6 | Rolla, ND | 1,164 | $52,841 | $121,500 | 41 |
| 7 | Garrison, ND | 1,456 | $68,646 | $181,800 | 65 |
| 8 | Stanley, ND | 2,089 | $105,893 | $241,300 | 59 |
| 9 | Lisbon, ND | 2,262 | $61,953 | $185,700 | 47 |
| 10 | Surrey, ND | 1,672 | $105,125 | $302,200 | 54 |