Fessenden is a small town of 550 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $64,052
and a 2.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fessenden stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Fessenden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fessenden city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.8
Fessenden's overall cost of living index is 85.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fessenden costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fessenden, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$63,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$702
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,052
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Fessenden's violent crime rate is 104.3 per 100,000 residents
— 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
104.3 /100k
Property Crime
104.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fessenden is served primarily by FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fessenden, ND
National Avg
School District
FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fessenden sees average highs of 18.8°F in January
and 80.4°F in July,
with 17.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 33.5 inches of snow per year.
Fessenden's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fessenden roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $63,500 and median rent is $702/month.
Fessenden's violent crime rate is 104.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 104.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fessenden are operated by FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1. 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fessenden, ND has a population of 550, a median household income of $64,052, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Fessenden averages 18.8°F in January and 80.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.3 inches
with about 33.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fessenden, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58438.
The population of Fessenden, North Dakota is 550 with a median age of 42.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fessenden: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $63,500, median household income $64,052, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fessenden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
