City Profile

Rugby, North Dakota

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Rugby, North Dakota, famously known as the "Geographical Center of North America," is a close-knit community located in Pierce County. Founded in 1886 along the railroad, the city has evolved into a resilient rural hub characterized by friendly neighborhoods, historic architecture, and a strong sense of Midwestern hospitality. People are drawn to Rugby for its peaceful, low-stress environment, making it an attractive destination for families and retirees seeking safety and connection.

The town maintains a proud rural character while offering essential modern conveniences. Surrounded by fertile agricultural lands, Rugby serves as a commercial and cultural center for the surrounding region, balancing its historic railroad roots with steady community engagement. Newcomers find an inviting atmosphere where local traditions, school sports, and community events anchor daily life.

Life in Rugby is defined by tight-knit social bonds and active civic participation. Local organizations and community leaders work collaboratively to maintain parks, host annual festivals like the Pierce County Fair, and support local businesses, ensuring a stable and supportive environment for all residents.

About North Dakota

North Dakota, located in the Upper Midwest, is characterized by its vast prairies, badlands, and a predominantly rural landscape, though its larger cities like Fargo and Bismarck are experiencing growth. The state's economy is primarily driven by agriculture, with approximately 90% of its land dedicated to farmland, producing crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans, alongside significant contributions from the energy sector, particularly oil and gas extraction from the Bakken oil shale fields. Living in North Dakota generally offers a lower cost of living, with housing costs and overall expenses typically below the national average. The climate features hot, short summers and long, cold, snowy winters, and the lifestyle is often described as slower-paced with a strong sense of community and abundant outdoor recreational opportunities.

2,481

Population

$50K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

64.3

Quality Score

How this 64/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 85 / 100	85.0	30%	25.5
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 88.0	58.8	25%	14.7
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $50,365 Income needed to live here: $42,000 Unemployment rate: 4.2%	61.2	20%	12.2
Growth	Population growth rate: no usable reading Job growth rate: 0.8%	36.0	15%	5.4
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 65 / 100	65.0	10%	6.5
Overall score				64.3

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 1 (fast), q=74), last refreshed 11 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Rugby is notably lower than the national average, making it an affordable option for budget-conscious households and first-time homebuyers. Housing costs, in particular, remain a major economic advantage, with median property values and average rents sitting significantly below typical US benchmarks. Everyday expenses such as groceries, local services, and general goods are generally manageable, reflecting the lower operational overhead of a rural Midwestern economy.

While everyday living is economical, certain expenses like utilities can fluctuate due to North Dakota's rigorous winter climate, which requires robust heating solutions. However, these seasonal spikes are typically counterbalanced by low property taxes and inexpensive local services, allowing residents to enjoy a comfortable standard of living without the financial pressures common in major metropolitan areas.

Average Rent

$740/mo

Groceries

$380/mo

Transport

$110/mo

Utilities

$185/mo

Healthcare

$220/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$11.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$20.00

Monthly groceries

$380.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$140.00

Income

Salary Insights

Rugby's economy is anchored by a diverse mix of healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and retail trade. Major employers such as the Heart of America Medical Center, Rugby Manufacturing, and local school districts provide foundational stability for the local workforce. Agricultural support businesses and implement dealers further reinforce the region's economic ties to farming and commodity production.

Although job growth tracks at a modest pace typical of rural plains communities, regional initiatives and the Rugby Job Development Authority actively encourage small business expansion and workforce training. The local labor market leans heavily on traditional industries, but improving digital infrastructure has also opened pathways for remote work and localized entrepreneurial ventures.

The average salary in Rugby is $50,365 per year. You would need approximately $42,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +0.90% Manufacturing +1.40% Healthcare +2.10% Educational Services +0.70% Agriculture +0.50%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

41°F

Avg Temp

☀️

75°F

Summer High

❄️

-3°F

Winter Low

🌧️

20.60"

Annual Rain

💧

65.00%

Humidity

🌤️

286

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Rugby is straightforward and heavily dependent on personal vehicles, with short average commute times and minimal traffic congestion. The city's compact grid layout makes driving and parking effortless across commercial and residential areas.

While public mass transit options are minimal given the city's scale, the high walkability of the core downtown district allows residents to easily access local shops, banks, and dining establishments on foot during favorable weather.

11 min

Avg Commute

35.00/10

Transit Score

58.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median home values in Rugby remain exceptionally affordable compared to the national average per U.S. Census data.

Crime rates are significantly lower than national averages, offering a very safe environment for families.

Heart of America Medical Center provides robust local healthcare services and long-term care.

Short average commute times of around 11 minutes eliminate daily traffic stress.

Strong community support and active local economic development programs foster a welcoming business atmosphere.

Drawbacks

Harsh winter weather conditions feature sub-zero temperatures requiring substantial heating costs.

Limited public transit infrastructure creates high car dependency for daily needs.

Modest population decline over recent years presents challenges for local labor market expansion.

Narrower selection of retail shopping and entertainment options within city limits.

Lower median household income levels relative to state and national benchmarks.

Head to Head

Compare Rugby

Rugby VS Grants Pass Rugby VS Cincinnati Rugby VS Binghamton Rugby VS Toledo

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Community Q&A

Questions about Rugby

What people ask about living in and moving to Rugby, North Dakota.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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