Why North Dakota Might Be Happier Than You Think

Living in North Dakota, I hear this all the time when I travel: “What do you do up there? Are you really happy up there?” Well, apparently, the answer is yes—at least according to Wallethub. In a recent study ranking the happiest cities in America, two North Dakota cities scored remarkably high. Fargo came in at 5th place with a score of 69.36, and Bismarck took 2nd place with 73.11, just behind Fremont, California, which scored 74.09. So next time someone asks if we’re happy here, I might just hand them this report and say, “See? Science says we are!”'

Get our free mobile app

Breaking Down Happiness: How Wallethub Measures What Makes North Dakota Cities Thrive

Wallethub’s happiness rankings aren’t just based on smiles per capita—they actually break it down into three major dimensions: Emotional & Physical Well-Being, Income & Employment, and Community & Environment. Each of these categories is carefully measured with multiple metrics, from depression rates and life satisfaction to job security, commute time, and even the acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. Yes, your local park could be making you happier than you realized.

Emotional & physical well-being is weighted heavily, accounting for 50 out of 100 total points. Factors like sleep, mental health, life expectancy, and even sports participation all play a role. So that Saturday morning jog, snowmobiling adventure, or curling league you join? That might just be boosting your city’s happiness score.

Income and employment count for another 25 points, looking at everything from household income to underemployment and job satisfaction. Community and environment make up the final 25 points, measuring safety, civic pride, and leisure time. Clearly, Fargo and Bismarck are doing something right.

Read More: North Dakota’s Dating Scene Ranked Near the Bottom—But There’s Still Hope

So the next time someone asks, “Why live in North Dakota?” you can reply with a grin, “Because we’re happy here!” And if that doesn’t convince them, just point out that Bismarck almost beat California—despite the snow. Now that’s something to smile about.