Cost of Living in Rolla
Rolla's cost of living runs genuinely low, anchored by dramatically affordable housing and North Dakota's favorable statewide tax structure.
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Learn moreHousing runs dramatically below national and state averages
Rolla's estimated median home value (~$151,500-$161,321, a real, disclosed cross-source spread) runs well below both the national (~$408,776) and North Dakota statewide (~$290,642) comparison figures (base record).
A real, disclosed property-tax averaging methodology
Census ACS data splits Rolla's property tax by mortgage status (1.3% mortgaged, 1.1% no-mortgage); this record averages the two (~1.2%), above North Dakota's own 0.99% statewide anchor (base record).
North Dakota's real, nationally-lowest top income tax rate
North Dakota's 3-bracket graduated income tax tops out at a real 2.50% marginal rate -- the lowest top rate of any US state that levies an income tax at all -- applying in Rolla as statewide (base record).
Genuinely modest rent
Median gross rent ran approximately $636/month (2024 ACS), with a separate median asking rent of ~$828/month for vacant units (base record).
Key takeaways
- Rolla's housing runs dramatically affordable relative to both national and North Dakota statewide averages.
- Rolla's own property tax rate (~1.2% average) runs above North Dakota's statewide anchor.
- North Dakota's 2.50% top marginal income tax rate is the lowest of any state with an income tax at all.
- Rent runs genuinely modest, with a real, disclosed spread between existing-tenant and asking-rent figures.
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