Garrison, North Dakota, July 2009 - 03 · Andrew Filer / CC BY-SA 2.0Main Street and the hotel at Garrison, North Dakota 1920 · Jerome O. Kilmartin / Public domain
Garrison is a small town of 1,524 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $70,813
and a 0.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Garrison stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Garrison is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Garrison 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: 91.0
Garrison's overall cost of living index is 91.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Garrison costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Garrison, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$178,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$705
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$70,813
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Garrison's violent crime rate is 209.1 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
209.1 /100k
Property Crime
557.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Garrison is served primarily by GARRISON 51.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Garrison, ND
National Avg
School District
GARRISON 51
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Garrison sees average highs of 19.5°F in January
and 81.3°F in July,
with 18.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 42.7 inches of snow per year.
Garrison's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Garrison roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $178,900 and median rent is $705/month.
Garrison's violent crime rate is 209.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 557.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Garrison are operated by GARRISON 51.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Garrison, ND has a population of 1,524, a median household income of $70,813, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%.
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.
Garrison averages 19.5°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.2 inches
with about 42.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Garrison, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58540.
The population of Garrison, North Dakota is 1,524 with a median age of 50.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Garrison: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $178,900, median household income $70,813, crime index 44 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Garrison side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
