How North Dakota Stacks Up in the “Rich Score” Rankings

Lately, it feels like no matter how hard we work, that little “extra” in the checking account has a way of disappearing faster than a plate of kuchen at a church potluck. Between bills, groceries, and the occasional splurge at Scheels, saving money can feel like a full-time job. But when you zoom out and look at the big picture, North Dakota is holding its own.

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According to homesnacks.com, our state comes in at 28th in the nation when it comes to wealth rankings. Not too shabby for a place where the cost of a good pair of steel-toed boots still competes with the price of a car payment. Our neighbors stack up like this: Montana just edges us out at 27th, South Dakota trails at 34th, and Minnesota—perhaps fueled by the power of fishing and hockey—sits at an impressive 17th.

Paychecks Alone Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Now, before we start measuring wealth solely by who’s got the bigger paycheck, let’s remember: money in the bank isn’t the only factor. To get a clearer picture of who’s really rolling in riches, the folks at homesnacks cooked up what they call a “Rich Score.” Using data from the American Community Survey and Zillow, they looked at both average home prices and median incomes. Each state was ranked from 1 to 50 in both categories, then those scores were averaged out. The lower your score, the “richer” you were.

Read More: North Dakota Households Show Impressive Credit Card Debt Control

So, what does this all mean for North Dakota? Well, we might not be topping the charts, but we’re far from the bottom. We’ve got affordable housing compared to many states, steady incomes, and plenty of elbow room—things that don’t always show up in the rankings but sure make life a little richer. After all, can you really put a price tag on a perfect fall day in the Badlands or a walleye fry with friends?

At the end of the day, being 28th doesn’t sound too bad. In fact, it sounds downright comfortable—like finding a $20 bill in your winter coat pocket just as the first snow flies.