North Dakota
8 Towns Perfect For Retirement In North Dakota
As one of thirteen states sharing a border with Canada, North Dakota gets its name from the American Souix name for “ally ” or “friend.” The “Peace Garden State” might be best known for its colder climate and wide-open landscapes, but in recent times, it has emerged as a surprising haven for retirees seeking a place to spend their golden years. For senior adults looking for close-knit communities, affordable living costs, and a rich historical heritage with numerous outdoor activities to explore, North Dakota delivers. The following eight communities are hidden gems perfect for retirees looking to find a tranquil and peaceful lifestyle far from the rigors and congestion of daily urban life.
Jamestown
Jamestown sits in Stutsman County in the south-central part of the state, with a population of over 15,000 residents. The town was formed in the 1870s and has a rich heritage as a railroad stop, supplying local ranchers with a place for commerce and community to help support their homesteads. The town boasts the North American Bison Discovery Center (formerly the National Buffalo Museum). This fantastic museum is dedicated to restoring the Buffalo through educational and preservation initiatives. The grandkids will love exploring the Frontier Village, with its original pioneer buildings filled with antiques and artifacts. In addition, the world’s largest buffalo sculpture makes for a memorable photo opp. History lovers will enjoy exploring the Stutsman County Memorial Museum, a free historical venue with several floors of interesting displays and stories about local culture.
The median home price is $229,000, and with very reasonable fuel and food costs, seniors will not have to worry about making ends meet. Residents enjoy a cost of living that is about 11% less than the national average and is about average compared to other areas of the state. Healthcare is supplied by Jamestown Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed critical care facility serving a nine-county area. When you visit, be sure to eat at the Buffalo Grill, an excellent dining establishment committed to offering affordable meals to locals and visitors alike. If you can stay during the summer, don’t miss the Buffalo Jam, North Dakota’s premier music festival.
Devil’s Lake
Devils Lake is aptly named for the large mineral-rich lake it borders in the northeastern part of the state. The region has plenty of stunning natural beauty and boasts an extensive list of outdoor activities to enjoy. Retirees can enjoy fishing, boating, and birdwatching around the lake, and Graham’s Island State Park has extra-large camping spots that are perfect for RVs. This community of just over 7,100 residents is close-knit, with very little traffic and a priceless small-town charm.
History enthusiasts will love exploring the Lake Region Heritage Center, housed in the 1910 old Post Office/Federal building. The downtown area features many local businesses, shops, and boutiques. If you visit, the best place for a meal is Old Main Street Cafe, with its eclectic array of old photos, weird collectibles, and delicious meals.
The average home price in Devil’s Lake is a reasonable $240,000, and the living cost is 17% less than the national average. Alexius Health, a 25-bed facility that can handle most medical situations, offers medical care. With nearly 22% of the town’s residents aged 65 and over, it is easy to see why this tranquil place might be the perfect retirement destination.
Minot
Minot is a city in Ward County in the north-central part of the state. With 47,000 residents, it is one of the largest cities in North Dakota and is known primarily for the Air Force Base, which sits fifteen miles north of town. The town began as a railroad hub supplying settlers who ventured across the northern Plains in search of their fortunes. Today, the community is home to Minot State University, serving about 2,500 students every academic year.
Retirees can explore the Scandinavian Heritage Park with its many artifacts and buildings or enjoy strolls along the Souris Valley Trail. The downtown area has many historic buildings and shops that lend to its small-town charm. The Roosevelt Park Zoo, with over 65 species of animals, is a nice way to spend a day with the grandkids when they visit. After visiting the menagerie, try the Starving Rooster downtown for great pizza or homemade sandwiches.
Owning a home in Minot will cost about $289,900, and living costs are just under the national average. One of the best things going for Minot is Trinity Health Regional Healthcare, which just opened a 167-bed medical campus in 2023.
Valley City
Valley City is known as the City of Bridges due to the eight historical bridges surrounding it. This historic town charms retirees with its picturesque landscapes and historic downtown. Residents will enjoy the Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway, which offers scenic drives, while Medicine Wheel Park provides a serene setting for relaxation overlooking the town. If you like hiking, the North Country National Scenic Hiking Trail is a must-see. The 4,800-mile trail stretches across eight states, offering several memorable once-in-a-lifetime excursions.
The median value for a home in Valley City is $292,000, with a living cost 14% less than the national average. Healthcare is provided by CHI Mercy Health, which operates a 25-bed hospital, with more specialized care offered in Fargo, which is about an hour away. When you visit, be sure to eat at the Bridges Bar and Grill, which has an excellent beer selection and tasty burgers.
Williston
Known for its robust economy fueled by the oil industry, Williston thrives in the northwest corner of the state, offering retirees a unique blend of urban amenities and small-town charm. This community has numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, from fishing on Lake Sakakawea to exploring the Maah Daah Hey Trail. History buffs will love exploring the Fort Union Trading Post, which operated as an important site for the fur trade between 1828 and 1867.
The downtown area has many boutiques, antique stores, and delicious dining establishments to choose from. Every Mother’s Day weekend, the town celebrates band day, where marching bands show their skills in a large parade and competition. The Williston Basin Air Show is one of the town’s premier events, happening every August.
The average price for a home is a stout $429,000, with home prices being driven up by the oil revenues brought into the community. (The town’s population nearly doubled during 2010 – 2020). Still, the living costs are about 6% less than the national average. Medical care is supplied by the Williston Medical Center and CHI-St. Alexius Healthcare.
Wahpeton
Wahpeton is a hidden gem for retirees seeking a serene and fulfilling lifestyle. Nestled along the Red River’s scenic banks in the state’s southeast corner, this charming town offers good schools, safe streets, and a caring community. Retirees can immerse themselves in the town’s rich history at the Chahinkapa Zoo and explore the fascinating exhibits at the Red Door Art Gallery. For nature enthusiasts, the nearby Chahinkapa Park provides picturesque walking trails and tranquil picnic spots. The town also boasts the Wahpeton Wahper, the world’s largest catfish. This unique work of art is a great photo op.
The median price for a home in Wahpeton is $296,000, with a living cost factor 22% less than the national average. In addition, healthcare options include the St Francis Medical Center, a critical care facility that can handle almost any medical situation. With its blend of local attractions, affordable housing, and access to quality medical care, Wahpeton, North Dakota, stands out as a prime destination for retirees seeking a fulfilling and comfortable retirement lifestyle.
Watford City
Watford City is located in McKenzie County on the western edge of North Dakota. It owes much of its recent development to the state’s oil boom, which has brought significant growth to the town over the last couple of decades. Watford City has seen a remarkable transformation in recent years, but with a solid infrastructure, a warm community spirit, and abundant recreational activities, this small town of 6,000 residents strives to be a great place to live.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing. The park is home to bison and wild horses, so keep your eyes peeled as you explore the park’s many hiking trails. It’s not uncommon to spot these majestic animals during your visit. The best place for a steak is Outlaws Bar and Grill, located on South Main.
The median home price is $375,000, and the living cost is slightly higher than the national average. With excellent access to medical care through McKenzie Healthcare System. Nearly 7.4% of the resident population is over 65, but more retirees are flocking to the area every year.
Mandan
Mandan is a small town sitting on the western side of the Upper Missouri River across from Bismarck. The community has a population of just under 25,000 residents and has a rich Native American heritage. History buffs will enjoy the Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, where visitors can explore reconstructed military buildings and the iconic On-A-Slant Indian Village. Additionally, Mandan boasts an array of outdoor recreational opportunities, from fishing and boating on the river to hiking and camping in the nearby hills. With its picturesque landscapes and vibrant community spirit, Mandan provides residents with a tranquil retreat amidst the rugged beauty of the North Dakota plains.
With its close access to Bismark, there are ample healthcare options, including the Vibra Hospital of the Central Dakotas, a 41-bed critical care facility. The median home price is $370,000, with a living cost of 11% less than the national average. The downtown area has plenty of quaint shops and boutiques to venture through. If you need a place to eat, try Friends Family Restaurant, a local eatery serving home-cooked food and drinks.
In conclusion, North Dakota’s small towns offer retirees a tranquil haven to embrace a slower pace of life, connect with nature, and foster meaningful community ties. Whether you’re drawn to outdoor adventures, cultural attractions, or simply seeking a close-knit community, these eight towns provide the perfect backdrop for a fulfilling retirement lifestyle.
North Dakota lawmakers are exploring using telemedicine technology to ease staffing strains on rural emergency medical services, a potential solution to a growing shortage of paramedics and volunteer responders across the state.
Though some solutions were floated and passed during the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers are working to understand the scope of the problem before proposing additional legislative changes in 2027.
The state has been facing a societal decline in volunteerism, which strains traditional volunteer firefighter and emergency medical services that support rural communities, said Sen. Josh Boschee, D- Fargo. Adding to pressure, when a rural ambulance service shuts down, the responsibility falls to neighboring ambulance services to answer calls in the defunct ambulance service’s coverage area.
How could telemedicine ease strains on rural EMS staffing?
One idea presented to the Emergency Response Services Committee on Wednesday to potentially alleviate some of the stress on rural ambulances is expanding access to technology in the field for emergency medical personnel.
Emergency medicine technology company Avel eCare presented to the committee its system, which allows ambulance personnel to be connected by video with emergency medicine physicians, experienced medics or emergency nurses in the field wherever there is cell reception. The company already operates its mobile service in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas, according to the company’s presentation.
Avel eCare said this allows medics and paramedics to have any questions they have answered and provides a second person to help document actions taken when there is only one person in the back of an ambulance with a patient, which they say is increasingly common in rural areas. This allows one medic or paramedic to put more focus on the patient.
The company said it is innovating the ability to also bring medical personnel into the call from whatever care center the ambulance is heading to, allowing the care center to better prepare for the ambulance’s arrival.
Lawmakers said they were interested in the system and could see how it would provide a benefit to thinly stretched EMS personnel.
Boschee said the state should consider funding the system, citing its potential to support local EMS providers and help retain volunteers.
Avel eCare did not provide a cost estimate for North Dakota, but offered South Dakota as an example. That state used general fund dollars to provide the Avel eCare service free of charge to agencies. The state paid $1.7 million in up-front costs for equipment — enough to outfit 120 ambulances — and an annual subscription cost of $937,000 to provide their services to 109 ambulances serving 105 communities in the state.
“I think specifically … how affordable that type of solution is for us to not only support our local EMS providers, but also to keep volunteers longer,” he said. “Folks know that they have that support network when they’re in the back of the rig taking care of a patient. That helps add to people’s willingness to serve longer. And so I think that’s a great, affordable option we have to look at, especially as we start going in the next couple months and continue to talk about rural health care transformation.”
Rural EMS shortages go beyond pay, state officials say
There are 28 open paramedic positions in the state, according to Workforce Services Director Phil Davis’ presentation. The difficulty in filling these positions is not just about money, though that certainly plays a factor in recruiting people, his report said.
“I’ll just speak from my experience with my own agency,” Davis said. “After 18 years, it’s very hard for us to even recruit individuals into Job Service North Dakota because of the lower wages.”
Davis showed that 2024 salaries for emergency medical technicians were fairly even across the eight regions Workforce Services breaks the state into, with a roughly $6,500 gap between the highest and lowest averages. Law enforcement officer pay varied by about $8,320, while firefighter salaries were the biggest outlier, with a $20,000 difference between regions. While state wages may lag nationally, other factors are making rural recruiting particularly difficult.
Davis said it was largely a lifestyle change; people are not seeking to live rurally as often.
“We’re starting to see the smaller communities, for the most part — not all — starting to lose that population. And it is tougher to get individuals to move there or to be employed there,” Davis said.
Job Service North Dakota is holding job fairs to try to recruit more emergency services personnel, with some success, he said, and has nine workforce centers across the state working directly with small communities to help with their staffing shortages.
Davis advocated for more education in schools about career paths in emergency services and the openings that are available in the state.
© 2025 The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, N.D.). Visit www.bismarcktribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
North Dakota
Found guilty of manslaughter: Dickinson man to spend only about four and a half more years in prison
DICKINSON — A 70-year-old Dickinson man
charged with murder in 2024
was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in prison after the charges against him were dropped to manslaughter. According to court documents, he will only be in custody for about four and a half more years.
Nine years were suspended from Jeffrey Powell’s sentence along with 532 days or about one and a half years for time already served.
Barring future developments, Powell will be incarcerated at the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for
the death of 59-year-old Christopher Volney Ische
for about four and a half more years.
That’s just months more than the four-year minimum sentence, according to the Stark County State’s Attorney Amanda Engelstad.
The initial incident happened on July 3, 2024. Police said the shooting, which resulted in Ische’s death, happened around 7 p.m. in a residential neighborhood in Dickinson after a verbal altercation. Police also said Powell had stayed on the scene of the shooting and talked with officers.
At the time of Powell’s arrest, police said they presumed Ische’s death was an isolated incident. He has been held at Southwest Multi-County Correctional Center (SWMCCC) since the incident with a $2 million bond.
Powell
was initially charged with a Class AA felony
, which could carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Powell was found guilty of manslaughter of an adult victim, which is a Class B felony.
Powell pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge.
Engelstad said to The Press that the difference in charges was based on evidence presented in the trial and was an “appropriate resolution.”
Different sentencing rules applied to Powell, however, because of how North Dakota law interprets the use of a firearm in cases like this.
During the trial, the court found that Powell was a dangerous special offender pursuant to NDCC 12.1-32-09. This portion of North Dakota law allows the court to sentence above normal charges. In Powell’s case, a class B felony typically carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. With the dangerous special offender finding, the sentence can be a maximum of 20 years.
Engelstad said the State had argued for a sentence of 20 years.
“I’m disappointed in the outcome,” said Engelstad.
Additional terms of Powell’s sentence include five years’ supervised probation, along with no contact with the family of the deceased for the same length of time.
If Powell does not violate these terms, his probation will end in 2035. He is scheduled to be released from custody June 23, 2030.
A total of $775 in fees for Powell’s case, including criminal administration, facility admin and victim witness fees, were waived. He may be required to pay restitution. The State’s Attorney’s office has 60 days from the date of judgment to file an affidavit of restitution.
The view through a North Dakota Highway Patrol squad’s windshield. (Facebook)
(FOX 9) – Blizzard warnings are in for parts of both North and South Dakota, creating hazardous conditions for drivers on Thursday morning.
Blizzard warning in effect
What we know:
In North Dakota, the blizzard warning covers most of the northern two-thirds of the state, stretching into northwest Minnesota.
In South Dakota, the blizzard warning only covers three counties in the far northeast part of the state, including Day, Marshall, and Robert counties.
The National Weather Service is only forecasting between one and four inches of snow in North Dakota and two inches of snow in South Dakota, but whipping winds up to 70 miles per hour will greatly reduce visibility and cause damage to trees and power lines.
READ MORE: White-out conditions reported in NW Minnesota
What they’re seeing:
North Dakota Highway Patrol shared photos showing the blizzard conditions along Interstate 94 just east of Bismark. In the photos, it appears you can only see a few feet past the front bumper of the squad.
Another post shows snow whipping in the high winds in Grand Forks County. Troopers are urging residents to stay home in North Dakota if they are able.
Travel restrictions in place
Big picture view:
A travel alert is in effect for western parts of North Dakota while no travel is advised for central and eastern parts of the state. Troopers have restricted oversized loads from roads in the northwest and northeast regions of the state as of 5:30 a.m. and empty or light-loaded high-profile vehicles due to the high winds and icy conditions.
In South Dakota, officials warn that there are reports of multiple downed powerlines and trees blocking roadways. No travel is advised in Day and Marshall counties.
The Source: This story uses information from the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the National Weather Service.
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