Bismarck ND Housing Market: Prices and Trends
Bismarck’s housing figures vary by provider and measure, so a home value estimate, listing price, and sale price should not be treated as interchangeable. Compare the latest available figures with local inventory and your own budget or selling plans.
The Bismarck ND housing market has different reported figures because home values and listing prices measure different things. Zillow reports a median home value of $377,821 in August 2026, while Realtor.com reports a median listing price of $538,000. [1][2]
A home value estimate and an asking price are not the same as a completed sale price. For example, a listing price describes what sellers are asking, while a sale price records what a buyer paid; a home value figure is a separate measure. Comparing these figures as if they were interchangeable can give you a misleading snapshot of local prices.
Bismarck’s median listing price is $538K, and 672 homes are currently for sale.[2] Keep that distinction in mind as you read the market figures below. A citywide number can orient you, but it does not tell you the asking or sale price of a particular home. For instance, a buyer considering a detached house should not assume either median is the expected price for that property; the specific home and its transaction provide different context.
How much do homes cost in Bismarck?
Bismarck home-price figures differ by provider and measure, so treat them as separate snapshots rather than one blended price. Zillow reports a median home value of $377,821 as of August 2026. [1] Homes.com reports a median single-family home price of $419,900, while its figures for one- and two-bedroom units are $119,900 and $195,000, respectively. [3]
Redfin reports an average house price of $305,000 for the previous month and a 7.7% year-over-year decline. [4] “Previous month” is relative to the Redfin search result, so check when you view it before treating that figure as current. [4]
These numbers answer different questions: a median home value, a median price for a property type, and an average house price are not interchangeable. For example, compare the Zillow estimate with the same provider’s estimate from an earlier month, or compare Redfin’s average house price with its own prior-period figure. Use the same measure and provider when you want to track change over time.
Before using any figure to plan, check its reporting date and what properties it covers. A quick note beside each number—provider, measure, period, and property type—can help you avoid comparing unlike figures.
What inventory and sales activity tell you
Realtor.com reports 672 homes for sale in Bismarck alongside a median listing price of $538,000, while Redfin gives the market a competitive score of 75 out of 100. [2][4] These figures offer a snapshot of listed supply and one provider’s view of competition, not a complete picture of what you will find for your search.
What the listing count can—and cannot—tell you
A citywide count does not show how many homes fit your budget, preferred neighborhood, or needs. For example, 672 listings could include homes that are too large, need more work than you want to take on, or sit outside the area you are considering.
Treat the count as a starting point, then narrow your search to the locations and features you would actually consider. A home may appear in the citywide total without being a realistic option for your household.
Reading Redfin’s competitiveness score
Redfin characterizes Bismarck’s market as very competitive and scores it 75 out of 100. [4] That score is one provider’s summary, not a universal label for every home or neighborhood.
For your search, focus on the specific listings and recent activity in the locations and price ranges you are considering. The citywide score alone does not tell you how many suitable homes are available to you or how a particular property will sell.
How rents fit into the local picture
Rent figures in Bismarck vary by provider, timing, and measure, so treat them as context rather than a single current price. Realtor.com reports a median rent of $1,700 per month, while a local report published in 2025 says average monthly rent had risen to about $1,465 that year. [2][5]
Those figures are not directly interchangeable: one is a provider-reported median, and the other is an average reported for 2025. The gap may reflect differences in timing and measurement, so avoid reading it as a precise rent increase between two comparable snapshots. [2][5]
For your budget, compare current asking rents for the kind of home and area you need. For example, check apartments separately from houses, and compare listings in the neighborhoods where you would actually live. A citywide figure can help set context, but it may not match the asking rent for a specific home type or location.
What these figures mean if you’re buying or selling
For a Bismarck home purchase or sale, use current property-specific comparisons and your budget—not a citywide figure alone. A broad estimate can help you frame a search, but it cannot tell you what a particular home is worth or what you can comfortably afford. Check up-to-date listings and comparable transactions before setting a budget or choosing an asking price.
If you’re buying
Start with recent sales of homes that are similar in location, size, and condition. Then compare the homes you are considering with those sales: for example, a renovated house may not be a close match for one that needs major repairs, even if both have similar square footage. Treat the comparison as a starting point, not a substitute for checking the specific property.
Bring monthly affordability into the decision, too. Work out what fits your household budget, including the home’s expected monthly costs, before deciding that a listing is affordable. If two homes have similar asking prices but different conditions, consider whether the repairs or upkeep would change what you can spend each month.
If you’re selling
Treat listing-price figures as context, not proof of what your home will sell for. A citywide asking-price measure describes listings broadly; it does not establish the likely sale price for your property. Compare recent transactions and current listings that resemble your home, and account for differences in condition and location when setting a price.
Before making either decision, refresh the comparison rather than relying on a figure you saw earlier. For example, a buyer can check current listings near a target budget, while a seller can review recent sales of similar homes before settling on an asking price. These steps help connect broad market information to the home and financial limits you are actually evaluating.
How to compare Bismarck market numbers
Compare Bismarck housing figures only after identifying what each one measures, when it was reported, and which area or homes it covers. A median home value is an estimate of typical home value, while a median listing price describes asking prices; neither is the same as an average sale price, which summarizes completed sales. Rent is a separate measure for housing costs and should not be compared directly with sale prices. [2][4][1]
For example, Zillow reports a median home value, Realtor.com reports a median listing price and median rent, and Redfin reports an average house price. [2][4][1] These labels tell you the measures differ, but they do not by themselves confirm that the providers use identical property types or geographic boundaries. Before comparing results, check the provider’s definition and whether it covers Bismarck city or a broader area.
The reporting period matters, too. Zillow’s value is dated August 2026, while Redfin describes its average house price as being from “last month”; Realtor.com’s excerpt gives no reporting month for its listing and rent figures. [2][4][1] If you put numbers from different months side by side, you may mistake a timing difference for a change in the market. Write down each figure’s date and boundary before using it in a comparison.
To judge whether prices are rising or falling, track the same measure across comparable periods. For instance, compare median listing price with median listing price—not one month’s asking-price figure with another month’s average sale price. If the provider changes its boundary or the kinds of homes included, note that before treating the figures as a trend. Use rent figures to follow rental costs separately, rather than folding them into home-price movement.
A practical takeaway for the Bismarck market
The practical takeaway is that reported home values and asking prices are different measures, so no single figure describes every Bismarck home. [2][1] Treat the available numbers as a market snapshot, not a prediction of what a particular property will cost or sell for. [2][4][1]
Before you decide what to offer or list, compare homes that match the property you have in mind. For example, look at nearby properties with a similar layout and condition, then check current listings and recent transactions; use the citywide figures only as context. For a seller, that means a broad asking-price figure should not set your price by itself. For a buyer, a citywide estimate should not replace checking the homes currently available to you.
Put affordability alongside those comparisons. Work out whether the expected monthly housing cost fits your budget, and account for the specific property rather than relying on a citywide number. If the figures you find do not use the same measure or reporting period, keep them separate instead of combining them into one apparent price trend.
Your next step is to check current, property-specific comparisons and your budget before setting an offer or asking price. That keeps your decision grounded in the snapshot available now, without assuming the market will move in a particular direction.