Oregon to North Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,337 mile interstate move from Oregon to North Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oregon vs North Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Dungeness Crab vs Lefse), real estate & housing (craftsman vs ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Dungeness Crab and Grilled Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Lefse & Chislic
- North Dakota housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in Oregon
- Rent in North Dakota is 42.19% more affordable than in Oregon
- Moving from Oregon to North Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Oregon to North Dakota movers is Pacific Northwest Moving
Oregon to North Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oregon to North Dakota
- High cost of living
- Rainy weather
- Traffic congestion
- Frequent wildfires
- Lower cost of living
- Sunnier days
- Less traffic
- Less wildfire risk
- Harsher winters
- Fewer natural landmarks
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer dining options
- Mild winters
- Diverse landscapes
- Vibrant culture
- Rich culinary scene
Pros of moving from Oregon to North Dakota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from the rainy weather and moving to North Dakota with sunnier days
- Swap the traffic congestion of Oregon for less traffic in North Dakota
- Get ready for less wildfire risk in North Dakota
Cons of moving from Oregon to North Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Oregon to live with harsher winters in North Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse landscapes and have to settle for the con of fewer natural landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant culture and get used to less cultural diversity in North Dakota
- Swap the rich culinary scene for fewer dining options
Oregon vs. North Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oregon | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Dungeness Crab | Lefse |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Salmon | Chislic |
Most popular street food item | Voodoo Doughnuts | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh Reuben | Wild Rice Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Oregon to North Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Dungeness Crab of Oregon for the equally delicious Lefse of North Dakota. And while the locals in Oregon rave about their flavorful Grilled Salmon and sumptuous Voodoo Doughnuts, North Dakota residents know they have tasty Chislic and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Reuben they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Burger of North Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oregon eateries like Pok Pok, Screen Door, and Levant. After the boxes are unpacked in North Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to North Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Kroll's Diner, Meats by Mindy, and Pitchfork Steak Fondue.
When comparing lifestyles, North Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oregon. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in North Dakota compared to what you are used to in Oregon. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in North Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oregon and North Dakota
Comparison | Oregon | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman | Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Eco-friendly features, Outdoor spaces | Spacious land, Energy efficiency |
- The Craftsman architecture that Oregon is known for will be replaced with the Ranch architecture typical of North Dakota.
- Compared to Oregon's real estate listings that commonly reference eco-friendly features and outdoor spaces, North Dakota's real estate listings often highlight features like spacious land and energy efficiency.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; North Dakota is less walkable than Oregon.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; North Dakota is less bike-friendly than Oregon.
- North Dakota has less of an urban feel than Oregon.
- North Dakota housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in Oregon, with a median home price of $253,395 compared to Oregonβs $497,946.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Dakota have increased 18% compared to a 39% increase in Oregon.
- Rent in North Dakota is 42.19% more affordable than in Oregon.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oregon and North Dakota
Comparison | Oregon | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Earthquakes, Wildfires | Blizzards, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 55Β°F | 82Β°F / 57Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 35Β°F | 23Β°F / 2Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 18 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 11 | 51 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Oregon to North Dakota. North Dakota gets 40% more sunshine days than Oregon.
- North Dakota has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Oregon.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in Oregon, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and floods in North Dakota.
- The average summer high temperature in North Dakota is 2 degrees warmer than in Oregon.
- The average winter lows are 33 degrees colder than they are in Oregon.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in North Dakota. North Dakota receives 24 fewer inches of rain compared to Oregon.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oregon and North Dakota
Comparison | Oregon | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $75,657 | $71,970 |
Cost of Living Index | 110.55 | 95.3 |
State Income Tax | 9.9% | 2.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.9% | 1.0% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 5% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Healthcare | Agriculture, Energy, Construction |
Affluence | Moderate | Steady |
Poverty | Noticeable | Manageable |
Homelessness | Concerning | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Dakota tend to earn about 5% less than those in Oregon
- The COLI in North Dakota will be 14% lower than what you are used to living in Oregon
- The state income tax in ND is 2.9% compared to 9.9% in OR
- The affluence in North Dakota is steady compared to moderate in Oregon
- The poverty level is manageable in North Dakota compared to noticeable in Oregon
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Oregon and minimal in North Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Oregon vs. North Dakota
Comparison | Oregon | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratically inclined | Republican stronghold |
Local Politics | Liberal cities, conservative rural areas | Conservative across most areas |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant none-affiliated population | Primarily Christian, with a notable Lutheran presence |
- Oregon tends to lean democratically inclined in its political climate
- North Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as a Republican stronghold
- North Dakota's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with a notable Lutheran presence
- Oregon's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant non-affiliated population
Education Guide When Moving from Oregon to North Dakota
Comparison | Oregon | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Ainsworth Elementary (Portland) Jackson Elementary (Medford) Findley Elementary (Beaverton) | Liberty Elementary (Bismarck) Freedom Elementary (West Fargo) Lincoln Elementary (Dickinson) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Stoller Middle School (Portland) Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) Cedar Park Middle School (Beaverton) | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Discovery Middle School (Fargo) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School of Beaverton School of Science & Technology (Beaverton) Lake Oswego High School (Lake Oswego) | Fargo North High School (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Grand Forks Central High School (Grand Forks) |
Top 3 private high schools | Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) St. Mary's Academy (Portland) | Shanley High School (Fargo) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) St. Mary's Central High School (Bismarck) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Delphian School (Sheridan) Portland Waldorf School (Milwaukie) The International School (Portland) | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Dakota Adventist Academy (Bismarck) |
Top 3 School Districts | Portland Public Schools Beaverton School District Lake Oswego School District | Bismarck Public Schools Fargo Public Schools West Fargo Public Schools |
How Much Do Oregon to North Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,337 miles from Oregon to North Dakota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Portland Movers Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,960 | 300 ft3 | $6.53 |
1 Bedroom | $2,918 | 450 ft3 | $6.48 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,826 | 750 ft3 | $6.43 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,023 | 1100 ft3 | $6.38 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,136 | 1600 ft3 | $6.33 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,313 | 1800 ft3 | $6.28 |
Top Oregon to North Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oregon to North Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pacific Northwest Moving
Best moving company overall for Oregon to North Dakota