9 Best Towns In North Dakota For Retirees

You probably hear much about California and Florida and just a little about North Dakota. That’s the beauty of it. Although off the radar, the Peace Garden State is one of America’s best-kept retirement secrets. It boasts an amazingly low cost of living, a quieter setting, enough elbow room, and warm, friendly communities. No wonder it is among the top states with a large retirement population. You will find vast, flat grasslands that stretch to the horizon (hence magical sunsets) and rugged badlands with colorful rock formations. If wondering about North Dakota’s best retirement spots, discover below 8 top-ranked towns in North Dakota for retirees.

Bottineau

If you have a sweet tooth, Pride Dairy Ice Cream is enough reason to retire in Bottineau. With a history that goes back to the 1930s, Pride Dairy Ice Cream styles itself as the last small-town creamery in the state of North Dakota. Of course, you are a heartbeat away from one of the most beautiful lakes in the Midwest: the 1,544-acre Lake Metigoshe. Also, Lake Metigoshe State Park has adorable campsites for a date with nature, and all sorts of cool animals to mingle with. You also have an airport, meaning you can hop on a flight to Boston on a whim, and Bottineau Winter Park, an excellent venue to learn snowboarding or skiing. The April 2025 median listing home price in Bottineau was a budget-friendly $290,000, a price point that comes with doorstep access to the SMP Health - St. Andrews and the nearby Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby.

Northwood

Retiring in Northwood means you are 40 minutes from Grand Forks, North Dakota’s third-largest city. This means you have ready access to the amenities of a big city, yet are ensconced from all the hectic hustle and bustle. Still, Northwood Deaconess Health Center is right in town and is a premier medical facility in the area. It was established in 1902 and is the oldest healthcare facility in North Dakota. You can pick groceries at Miller's Fresh Foods, tee off a lazy afternoon at the well-maintained Northwood Golf Course, or reel in a tasty catch at the nearby Stump Lake, a glimmering beauty that offers a wide range of recreational opportunities. Keep in mind that the Stump Lake National Wildlife Refuge was the third national wildlife refuge in the nation and the first in North Dakota. The best part? Houses sell for a median listing price of $187,500, and in a balanced market, meaning the supply and demand are just about the same.

New Town

New Town is the safest town in North Dakota. According to Safewise, the online platform for safety statistics, New Town has a Violent Crime rate of 0% and a Property Crime rate of just 1.2 per 1,000 residents. You can float down the Missouri River, the longest in the nation; paddle Lake Sakakawea, the third-largest in the United States by volume; or catch up with fellow empty nesters at the Edgewater Country Club, a fantastic 9-hole course with an awesome clubhouse. Mountrail County Medical Center is in neighboring Stanley, about 30 minutes down the road. Realtor and Zillow do not show the median listing for houses in town; however, the median listing price in Mountrail County is $349,000.

Hazen

Retiring in Hazen means you are an hour from Bismarck, North Dakota's capital, and the second-most populous city in the state after Fargo. This means some of the best amenities in the state are just a whisper away. It may be close to the capital, but Hazen has safe, quiet neighborhoods, decent shopping venues (like Krause’s), and a medical facility that has been serving the community since 1947. Sakakawea Medical Centre is a Critical Access Hospital that offers several services, including emergency care. The median listing home price in Hazen was $250,000 in April 2025, a price point that comes with access to the Missouri River, Knife River, Mercer County Regional Airport, and some decent restaurants for a filling mid-week brunch.

Valley City

The secret with most college towns is that they are often vibrant, diverse, and relatively more accommodating. Valley City hosts Valley City State University, a long-running establishment that has been around since the 1890s. Moreover, you have Chi Mercy Health for your medical needs, and even more options in Lisbon, Jamestown, and Cooperstown, all of which are minutes from town. In April 2025, the median listing home price in Valley City was $257,400. Even by North Dakota standards, this price point will be hard to beat. There is Chautauqua Park, a tranquil space on a bend of the Sheyenne River; Medicine Wheel Park, a lovely place for an evening walk or a magical sunset; and the Sheyenne River itself, a water lover's paradise.

Jamestown

Although mostly known for the World's Largest Buffalo Monument, Jamestown is also one of North Dakota's college towns. Iit hosts the University of Jamestown, a private liberal arts college established in 1883. Hugo's Family Marketplace ensures your table is constantly furnished with fresh supplies of food, while the Dairy Queen may be enough to draw any retiree with a sweet tooth. To the outdoor enthusiast, the James River flows through the town and offers a delightful range of recreational opportunities. There is Klaus Park as well, tastefully positioned on a bend of the James River. For any midnight emergency, Jamestown Regional Medical Center is right in town. Bear in mind that in April 2025, the median listing home price in Jamestown was a budget-friendly $242,000.

Beulah

If you consider safety a non-negotiable, you will be pleased to know that Safewise named Beulah the second-safest city in North Dakota in 2022, based on FBI crime statistics. But there is more to Beulah. For example, Bronson's Marketplace & Liquor is a nice, well-stocked grocery store and will meet most of your shopping needs. With Hazen a blink away, you have many other amenities at a moment's notice, including the Sakakawea Medical Center. You also have Knife River, a Missouri River tributary that stretches more than 90 miles, and Black Sands Golf Course, where one can stretch, eat, and catch up with friends and family. Beulah Park is a few steps away and features multiple playgrounds to entertain kids or grandkids. Will you be outpriced? In April 2025, the median listing home price in Beulah was just $237,500, as per data from Realtor.com.

Mandan

Retiring in Mandan is like having Bismarck all to yourself, but at a rate card that is slightly more affordable and in an environment that is a tad more relaxed. Downtown Bismarck is just 10 minutes down the road, meaning you can get to it in a flash. In April 2025, the median listing home price in Mandan was $420,000, about $40,000 lower than the equivalent figure for Bismarck. CHI St. Alexius Health, which is in neighboring Bismarck, has been a recipient of the Critical Care Excellence Award. Outdoor venues around town include the Heart River, Dog Town Dog Park & Sitting Bull Park, which is among the biggest of its kind in the Bismarck area, and the Missouri River State Natural Area, which features some of the most beautiful trails around.

Wahpeton

Wahpeton is a vibrant college town with an environment that pulsates with youthful energy. It hosts the North Dakota State College of Science, one of the oldest two-year, comprehensive, residential colleges in the nation. On healthcare access, Chi St. Francis Hospital in neighboring Breckenridge has been recognized for the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care Award. Consequently, there will be no need to make a 3-hour trip to see a physician. Chahinkapa Park, with its beautiful sculpture garden, is a soothing space to kick back and unwind. There is Breckenridge Lake, Otter Trail River, and the immaculately landscaped Bois de Sioux Golf Course. If worried about affordability, the median listing home price in Wahpeton, North Dakota, was just $312,200 in April 2025. The best part? You can reach Fargo in less than an hour.

The Takeaway

Considering the benefits that North Dakota presents, including scandalously low cost of living, you will not want to be crowded in Florida or deal with California’s price tags. You will find small, charming towns with tight-knit communities and places where it is easy to establish genuine connections. There is the offbeat appeal of wide open skies, the wonder of spectacular sunsets, and the enormity of sweeping grasslands. Moreover, since 2021, North Dakota has exempted Social Security retirement benefits from taxation. Whether you pick Bottinaeu or Beaulah, there is a spot with your name on it.