12 US Cities Doing The Best Economically Right Now

12. Bismarck, ND

Composite score: 25

Bakken shale oil has had a large impact on Bismarck’s booming development in recent years, as we have already mentioned above. Per capita average GDP in North Dakota’s capital amounts to $42,100 and has a tendency to rise slowly. What’s more important, however, are very low unemployment and poverty rates of only 2.2% and 8.3% respectively. For comparison, lowest unemployment rates in the US are exhibited by Ames, Indiana, and Fargo, North Dakota – Minneapolis, and amount to 1.9%. At the same time percentage of people living below the poverty line is lowest (6.4%) in California – Lexington Park, Maryland. Even though Bismarck’s economy seems to be showcasing a steady rise, historically low oil prices have had their toll, and will certainly impact Bismarck’s growth in the future. In fact, we have witnessed reports of North Dakota’s extremely low crude oil worth in the last few days. Shale oil in North Dakota is so cheap due to its very low quality that in fact, it’s worth almost nothing at this point. It seems that Bismarck’s smooth sailing is coming to an abrupt end.

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