Grand Forks, ND vs Williston, ND

Grand Forks is moderately more affordable than Williston, with a 8.1% lower cost of living index. Grand Forks scores 79 compared to 86 for Williston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Williston can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Grand Forks is $958/month compared to $1,106/month in Williston — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Grand Forks is more affordable at $243,300 median vs $262,700.

Median household income in Grand Forks is $63,838 compared to $84,309 in Williston (-24.3%). While Williston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Grand Forks spend roughly 18% of their income on rent, more than the 15.7% in Williston.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (39.8°F vs 41.7°F). Grand Forks receives more rainfall at 21.7" per year compared to 15.1" in Williston.