North Dakota Seniors Are On the Move—And Loving It!

North Dakota really is a great place to love—and live! With four distinct seasons, clean air that actually smells like air, sparkling lakes, and wide-open spaces that make city folks jealous, it’s no wonder people here are thriving. But it turns out it’s not just the view that’s refreshing—our senior citizens are among the most active in the entire country!

North Dakota Seniors Rank well in the Nation for Staying Active—And They're Just Getting Started!

According to a new report from Choice Mutual, North Dakota ranked 7th in the nation for senior activity levels. That’s right—our folks aged 60 and up are out there getting things done! Whether it’s raking leaves, planting tomatoes, or dusting shelves, seniors here are proving that retirement doesn’t mean slowing down—it means finally having time to clean and complain about the dust.

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Turns Out Gardening in North Dakota Winds Totally Counts as Cardio

The study crunched numbers from the American Time Use Survey—looking at how many minutes seniors spend doing physical activities like sports, recreation, gardening, and household chores. And before you ask, yes, gardening counts. If you’ve ever tried to pull weeds in 30 mph winds, you know it’s practically a CrossFit session.

Read More: North Dakota’s Feeling the Burn(out): A Lighthearted Look at Our Hustle Hangover

Montana and Minnesota Lead the Pack

Our neighbors also scored big: Montana topped the list at #1 (must be all that high-altitude weeding), and Minnesota took 2nd (land of 10,000 lakes—and apparently 10,000 lawnmowers). Sadly, South Dakota didn’t have enough data to be included, which probably just means they were too busy staining the deck to answer the survey.

What’s most popular among active seniors? Cleaning the house and gardening were top choices—because nothing says “fun” like scrubbing baseboards or chasing squirrels out of the zucchini patch.

So next time you see a senior out washing windows or working in the garden, give them a wave—or better yet, ask them for their secret. Chances are, they’ll tell you it’s the North Dakota way: fresh air, honest work, and maybe a little stubbornness too.