Living in Lisbon, ND
Ransom County
Lisbon is the real, current seat of Ransom County in southeastern North Dakota, founded in 1880 and sitting directly on the banks of the real Sheyenne River. Lisbon's most distinctive feature is marking the real, current southern terminus of the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway, a 63-mile designated scenic drive with 41 award-winning interpretive panels running north to the Baldhill Dam near Valley City. Lisbon's population has run a real, modest decline in recent estimates from its 2,204 2020 Census figure, and its senior (65+) population share runs a real, disclosed 22.14%-27.2% -- meaningfully above North Dakota's own statewide figure, making Lisbon a genuinely retiree-relevant market this record credits directly. Housing carries a real, disclosed, genuinely wide cross-source spread ($186,404-$225,000 across sources), and Lisbon's direct Sheyenne River location brings a real, current, structurally distinctive flood-risk profile this record discloses precisely -- the Sheyenne is a 'perch river' whose elevated banks cause breach floodwaters to spread widely. Crime runs genuinely, substantially low across every measure cited this pass.
Explore Lisbon in depth
- Moving to Lisbon: Pros, Cons & What to Know
- Cost of Living in Lisbon
- Housing in Lisbon
- Taxes & Insurance in Lisbon
- Climate in Lisbon
- Schools & Families in Lisbon
- Healthcare & Safety in Lisbon
- Pros and Cons of Living in Lisbon
- Retiring in Lisbon
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Learn moreHousing
Taxes
Not independently sourced at the Ransom County level this session. North Dakota's top state income tax rate is 2.50%. See the North Dakota hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Lisbon-specific.
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Get local guidanceThe tradeoffs
Pros
A real, distinctive scenic-byway tourism identity (the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway's southern terminus) and genuine Sheyenne River recreation access (fishing, Dead Colt Creek boating/camping). Genuinely, substantially low crime across every measure cited this pass. Genuine housing affordability relative to North Dakota's statewide range, despite a real, disclosed cross-source price spread. North Dakota's real, current statewide tax advantages (a light 2.50%-top-marginal income tax) apply directly.
Cons
A real, current, genuinely significant Sheyenne River flood-risk exposure this record discloses precisely (a 'perch river' whose elevated banks cause floodwaters to spread widely when breached). A real, notably elevated property tax rate (1.40%, the highest disclosed figure of this project's four North Dakota Tier B markets built this pass). A real, disclosed schools research gap -- this pass found only general program-breadth information rather than a specific, sourced performance figure.
Who this fits
Best for: Best fits retirees and outdoor-recreation-minded movers drawn to genuine Sheyenne River access, scenic-byway tourism character, and low crime, alongside cost-conscious movers who confirm current, address-specific listing data given the real, disclosed housing-price spread.
Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for movers seeking to avoid river flood-risk exposure or minimize property tax burden -- Lisbon's real, disclosed direct Sheyenne River flood profile and its notably elevated 1.40% effective property tax rate are real, disclosed factors that should weigh directly into a purchase decision, alongside confirming current FEMA flood-zone status for any specific target address.
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