countyscore

Best Counties for Retirement in North Dakota 2026

53 counties ranked by health care, safety, tax burden, and affordability.

Top 5 Retirement Counties in North Dakota

1Slope County
77.4
2Billings County
84.1
3Oliver County
74.1
4Steele County
75.8
5Burke County
72.5

All 53 Retirement-Ranked Counties in North Dakota

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Slope County, ND8977.4
2Billings County, ND8484.1
3Oliver County, ND8374.1
4Steele County, ND8275.8
5Burke County, ND7972.5
6Divide County, ND7772.2
7Griggs County, ND7770
8LaMoure County, ND7570.4
9Wells County, ND7568.2
10Nelson County, ND7471.5
11Kidder County, ND7369.8
12Logan County, ND7367.4
13Grant County, ND7166.7
14McHenry County, ND7169.3
15Sioux County, ND7068.4
16Cavalier County, ND6966
17Pembina County, ND6969
18Golden Valley County, ND6868.1
19Dickey County, ND6862.6
20Traill County, ND6864.5
21Renville County, ND6766.8
22Sargent County, ND6760.6
23Ransom County, ND6766.7
24Adams County, ND6662.2
25Foster County, ND6664.3
26Bowman County, ND6664.9
27Hettinger County, ND6562.1
28McLean County, ND6560.1
29Mercer County, ND6460.6
30Bottineau County, ND6461.3
31Pierce County, ND6463.9
32Sheridan County, ND6262.1
33Dunn County, ND6161.5
34Eddy County, ND6160.3
35Emmons County, ND6060.4
36Benson County, ND6063.2
37McIntosh County, ND6060.7
38Towner County, ND5860.4
39Barnes County, ND5656.2
40Mountrail County, ND5560.7
41Walsh County, ND5554.6
42Rolette County, ND5257.6
43Richland County, ND5251.7
44Ward County, ND5248.2
45Stutsman County, ND5148.3
46McKenzie County, ND4848.8
47Burleigh County, ND4745.4
48Stark County, ND4746.9
49Williams County, ND4542.8
50Ramsey County, ND4550.4
51Grand Forks County, ND4040.5
52Morton County, ND3938.5
53Cass County, ND3938.9

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for retirement in North Dakota?

Based on our analysis of health care access, safety, property taxes, and cost of living, Slope County ranks as the top retirement county in North Dakota with a retirement score of 89.

How many counties in North Dakota are ranked for retirement?

We rank 53 counties in North Dakota for retirement suitability, scoring each on health care access (35%), safety (30%), property tax (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse North Dakota Counties For

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Retirement Rankings by State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.