Grand Forks, North Dakota

Home prices in Grand Forks are hard to beat. Due to its isolated location and low population, there is an abundance of affordable homes, particularly compared to other college towns. Add to that its convenient position midway to just about everything in the region: Duluth, Minneapolis, Winnipeg, and the western side of North Dakota, and many find it the ideal place to buy. The price you pay for a one-bedroom apartment in much of the country will net you a large, spacious home in Grand Forks.

The weather is undeniably the hardest part of Grand Forks for both longtime residents and newcomers. The cold arrives after Labor Day, and Winter officially begins in late October. From there, it does not let up until late April or early May most years. The flat landscape leads to wind chills and massive amounts of snow most of the winter, and the omnipresent darkness can also negatively affect those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Summer in turn tends to be hot and humid, and residents frequently have to contend with high amounts of insects and flash flooding from the river. Keep it in mind before making the move.

Despite, or perhaps because of, the weather, the residents of Grand Forks pride themselves on heartily embracing the winter. Winter activities such as cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and skating are popular pastimes, and the local University of North Dakota is home to one of the biggest and most popular college hockey franchises in the world. Hockey games in particular are the epicenter of community culture, informing much of the bar and nightlife scene each year. In the summer, flat trail hiking biking, and fishing are popular activities, as is gardening during the short but affluent growing season. For those less interested in the outdoors, the university brings in a high number of concerts and theatrical productions each year, and several art and history museums decorate the city.

Additionally, keep in mind that while Grand Forks is a college town and the student population might run a bit more progressive, Grand Forks is a conservative city so buyer beware if that ain't your cup of tea.

Check out the Grand Forks calendar of events to see how the city plays during the year.

We highly recommend visiting Grand Forks and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

For a city that to many seems isolated from obvious industries, Grand Forks has a diverse economy not particularly bound by any one sector. Grand Forks Air Force base employs large numbers of civilian workers in addition to military personnel. The university employs plenty of professors and administrators, and Altru Health System is a big employer of healthcare workers.

Wind farming is a major source of jobs for scientists and general workers in the energy industry. And of course, Grand Forks’ agricultural sector continues to thrive to this day, along with the food processing plant. It's a surprisingly diverse economic base for a city that is at a distance from financial centers.