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. 

Housing Affordability

LookyLOO Review of Grand Forks

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](https://www.visitgrandforks.com/events/) to see how the city plays during the year. 

We highly recommend visiting Grand Forks and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) 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](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle 

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](https://www.grandforks.af.mil/) base employs large numbers of civilian workers in addition to military personnel. The university employs plenty of professors and administrators, and [Altru Health System](https://www.altru.org/) 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. 


Worklife 

Affordability in a college town is kind of the holy grail. You get the benefits of a university in culture and energy but you spend a lot less than you would in a bigger city. Add on being surrounded by largely untamed wild land, and a population of friendly small town folk and you have a sense of why you should put it on your short list. 


Affordable Culture

Why You Should Move Here Now

**Br0k3nRoo5ter**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I moved up here from Texas and the other 2 people that I've met from Texas also love it. The winters are rough but you endure and make due, and then everyone has an amazing summer. The community here in ND is great and apart from a few grumpy people it's a great state. Fargo is another big college town with a nice beautiful downtown. If you have time I suggest coming here for a weekend. There's plenty to walk around and do. The night life downtown is pretty lively and for a cold state it has a good amount of Balcony bars as well. There's also lots of beautiful parks, museums and sights.

There's this saying "the cold keeps the rifraff out". Some people still hold to it which is why they say to leave but it's rare. Stick to the cities and some small towns and you'll be fine. As far as "riffraff" just stay away from the Oil field towns. They tend to have more of the shady population. Hope your summer visit can evolve to an extended stay because this really is a beautiful state to live in.

For more reviews of what living in Grand Forks is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/grand-forks/reviews).

Reviews of Grand Forks from Locals

Downtown Grand Forks is the center of the business district of the city as well as its cultural and entertainment hub. If you want to live and possibly work within a short walk of much of what happens here then Downtown should be #1 on your list of neighborhoods to check out. 

Some of what has driven this concentration is the presence of  the University of North Dakota's main campus in the neighborhood. That means the Ralph Engelstad Arena, which is home to the UND Fighting Hawks hockey team and hosts concerts and other events is right here. The downtown is also home to the Grand Forks Public Library and the Empire Arts Center, which presents live performances like theater and music, movies, and other important cultural events.

Downtown is the heart of the restaurant, cafe, and bar/pub scene in North Forks so whatever your social preference you'll find it here. Finally, the city's largest farmer's market is open year from June through September near the City Hall and it acts as a real glue for those who live downtown and those who live in the suburbs and those who come from the rural areas surrounding North Forks. 

The housing includes cool converted lofts in the historic buildings and newer apartment developments. Condo purchases and rentals are aplenty for students and young professionals. Costs are low relative to other college downtown neighborhoods. 

Young Professionals/College Students

Downtown

The Near Southside Historic District is one of the premier neighborhoods in North Folks with Mid 19th Century Revival and Late Victorian architecture dominating the homes and commercial buildings. Families love the spacious homes, tree-lined streets but perhaps even more so they appreciate that the neighborhood has several parks, including Lincoln Drive Park and Rotary Park where kiddos have tons of room to run around, ride on bike trails, play disc-golf and fish to their heart's desire. It's also home to the Grand Forks Public Library and the Grand Forks Herald newspaper so education and local knowledge is never far away.

Families

Southside Historic District

Not surprisingly, the historic Riverside Neighborhood has many of streets tucked into the Red River that flows through the city of Grand Forks. Just as important to the character of the neighborhood is Riverside Park, an historic centerpiece of the city with every kind of recreational opportunity you can think of available. Bike/walk trails, hoop courts, fishing, frisbee golf, hockey rinks, tennis, swimming pool and tons and tons of open space for the kids to run and enjoy all seasons in the great outdoors. 

Combine that outdoor culture with homes from the 1880s to the 1940s, and styles including Queen Anne, Tudor, Classical and Dutch and you can understand why families LOVE this neighborhood. 


Riverside

Grand Forks

**FckChNa**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

People will find any reason to hate on ND (and hate on any place or any thing, really). Whether is young people/students in Fargo/GF complaining about the “racist Trumpers” or people in small towns complaining about said young people for generalizing them. It’s all just bullshit. For anyone who has actually travelled the country, there are far worse places in any aspect.

I love North Dakota and people here are generally more friendly and welcoming than most places! Especially in the winter time when people get stuck or spring floods. I live in Williston which gets more hate than probably any other place in the state. There are so many opportunities here and a great community! Make sure you take a trip to the western part of the state! Especially Teddy Roosevelt National Park! Get on US-2 and head west, then South on US-85, and finally Westin on I-94 for a couple of miles to Medora. It has moments of astonishing beauty unlinke anywhere else.

**Like9Samurai**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I loved North Dakota when I lived there. People aren't wrong when they point out the politics of the state, but the beauty of the state is very underrated. It's a hidden gem in this country, and I can honestly say I will probably move back eventually. I know I mentioned this in your last thread, and I understand you're limited with how far you can travel, but I can not stress enough how beautiful Theodore Roosevelt National Park is. If you have a way to get there, I 100% recommend it

**Br0k3nRoo5ter**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I moved up here from Texas and the other 2 people that I've met from Texas also love it. The winters are rough but you endure and make due, and then everyone has an amazing summer. The community here in ND is great and apart from a few grumpy people it's a great state. Fargo is another big college town with a nice beautiful downtown. If you have time I suggest coming here for a weekend. There's plenty to walk around and do. The night life downtown is pretty lively and for a cold state it has a good amount of Balcony bars as well. There's also lots of beautiful parks, museums and sights.

There's this saying "the cold keeps the rifraff out". Some people still hold to it which is why they say to leave but it's rare. Stick to the cities and some small towns and you'll be fine. As far as "riffraff" just stay away from the Oil field towns. They tend to have more of the shady population. Hope your summer visit can evolve to an extended stay because this really is a beautiful state to live in.

**What's a North Dakotan City Like? - Grand Forks, North Dakota**

Join me in Grand Forks ND. It's technically a city but it just feels like a town. It's got it own government, bus system and airport. 

**#AskUND - What's it like to live in Grand Forks?**
The University of North Dakota.

Grand Forks, North Dakota

The Forks

Looklyloo Score: 89

Reviews

What's it like to live in Grand Forks?