×

Fact text

  • Bismarck is the only U.S. state capital named after a foreign statesman, German chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
  • The city was renamed Bismarck specifically to lure German investors and settlers to buy into the Northern Pacific Railway.
  • The North Dakota State Capitol is a 19-story Art Deco skyscraper, and the tallest building in the entire state.
  • The original capitol building dramatically burned to the ground in 1930, so the current one was built during the Great Depression.
  • Bismarck's Cathedral District still has towering American elms lining its streets, they somehow escaped the elm disease that wiped out tree canopies across eastern U.S. cities.
Your
Bismarck
Retirement Outlook — in 90 seconds
Hosted by Michael McMillan, President of Annuities.net
Every figure mentioned is drawn from the same sourced public data shown below — and the video updates as the data does.
Stat icon
73,435
+
Total Population
Stat icon
$
67,629
Median Income
Stat icon
$
249,200
Median Home
Stat icon
17
%
Age 65+
Retirement Suitability
How
Bismarck
ranks for retirees?
40
/ 100

A blended, sourced view of how this city ranks for retirees across tax, affordability, healthcare, and climate.

Tax
8
Affordability
52
Healthcare
82
Climate
2

Results

Bismarck

Suitability Breakdown

Retirement tax planning
01 - Taxes

Retirement Tax Treatment

Tax
8

North Dakota levies a state income tax, but Social Security benefits are fully exempt, a meaningful break for retirees relying on that income.

State sales tax here runs about

%.

Source · Tax Foundation
8
Retirement tax planning
02 - Income

Annuity Rates Available Here

Affordability
52

Fixed annuity rates reach up to

7

% on 5-year terms, with most landing between

5

% and

5

%.

Source · Cannex
52
Retirement tax planning
03 - Healthcare

Hospital Access & Quality

Healthcare
82

The area has

2

Medicare-certified hospitals, averaging a

4

/5 CMS quality rating.

Source · CMS Hospital Compare
4
Retirement tax planning
04 - Climate

Weather & Comfort

Climate
2

A

Cold / Snowy

climate — summers peak near

80

°F, winters dip to about

5

°F, with roughly

″ of snow a year.

Source · NOAA Climate Normals
Cold / Snowy
Retirement tax planning
05 - Risk

Natural Disaster Risk

Risk
Relatively Moderate

FEMA's overall natural-disaster risk rating for this county on the National Risk Index.

Source · FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate

Keep Learning

Free retirement education from Annuities.net — no signup required.

Retirement Planning

Empower Your Retirement Planning: How to Evaluate Annuity Options

Learn how to evaluate annuity options, weigh the trade-offs, and build a secure retirement plan. Use independent education from Annuities.net to make informed decisions and plan for steady lifetime income.

Read more

Investing

Why Independent Annuity Guidance Makes a Difference for Your Nest Egg

Independent, unbiased annuity guidance helps protect your nest egg by offering clear, conflict-free information. Use the free educational resources at Annuities.net to make informed retirement planning decisions.

Read more

Retirement Planning

Unlock Your Retirement Potential: Why Independent Financial Advice Matters

Independent financial advice is crucial for unbiased, personalized retirement planning. Annuities.net offers free, transparent education and a match with a licensed advisor to help secure steady income and financial peace of mind.

Read more

Hosted by Michael McMillan, President of Annuities.net
More videos on our channel →

Ready to Secure Your Retirement Future?

Join thousands of Americans who've taken control of their retirement planning with expert guidance and proven strategies.

Schedule Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Does North Dakota tax Social Security income for retirees?

North Dakota does levy a state income tax, but Social Security benefits are fully exempt from it. For retirees in Bismarck who depend heavily on Social Security, this exemption can meaningfully reduce their annual state tax burden compared to states that tax those benefits.

What are healthcare options like for retirees in Bismarck?

Bismarck has two Medicare-certified hospitals that average a 4.0 out of 5 CMS quality rating. That combination of local access and solid quality scores suggests retirees can expect reasonably reliable care for both routine checkups and more urgent medical needs without traveling far.

How affordable is housing in Bismarck for someone planning retirement?

The median home value in Bismarck is $249,200, which sits below many larger metro areas. For retirees evaluating how far their savings will stretch, housing costs are one of the more significant line items, and this figure provides a concrete benchmark for planning purposes.

How severe is the weather and natural-disaster risk in Bismarck?

Bismarck has a cold and snowy climate, with average summer highs around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and average winter lows near 5 degrees Fahrenheit. FEMA classifies the county’s overall natural-disaster risk as Relatively Moderate, meaning some exposure exists but it is not considered elevated compared to higher-risk regions.

Can retirees in North Dakota use annuities to lock in guaranteed income?

North Dakota exempts Social Security from state income tax, which already helps Bismarck retirees stretch fixed income — but Social Security alone rarely covers every essential expense. A multi-year guaranteed annuity, or MYGA, lets you deposit a lump sum and earn a fixed interest rate for a set term, so you know exactly what you’ll receive. That predictability can fill gaps between Social Security and monthly bills. Current rates change often, so check our current annuity rates page for today’s figures.

See Current Annuity Rates