Market rankings · North Dakota
Restaurants and cafes in North Dakota
Markets across North Dakota ranked by the Groundwork market score for restaurants and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,480
- 1,249 chain locations (36%)
- Official establishments
- 1,343
- +7.5% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $1.3B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 105.1
- 4% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $375K
- In line with the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #12 of 51
- Market score 62 · Upper middle
A site report maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings around any address in North Dakota by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Map listings as of September 2026 show 3,480 restaurants and cafes in North Dakota. Chain locations make up 36% of them, against 34% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 105.1, 4% below the U.S. rate of 109.8.
At $3,940 per household (3% below the U.S. average), households in North Dakota spend about $1.3B a year on food away from home. That works out to $375K per restaurant, in line with the U.S. figure of $371K.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in North Dakota was 1,343 in 2023, up 7.5% from 2019. That is one for every 247 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 56 SBA-backed loans worth $30.4M have gone to businesses classed as restaurants and other eating places in North Dakota.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Dakota ranks #12 for restaurants and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 62 (upper middle). Of the 4 scored metro areas in or partly in North Dakota, the Bismarck metro area scores highest (84). Of the 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Dakota, the Wahpeton area scores highest (73).
Every market in North Dakota for restaurants and cafes
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in North Dakota, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Bismarck, ND | 84 | 490 | 87.6 | $475K | +4.5% | #8 of 387 |
| 2Fargo, ND-MN | 83 | 1,019 | 92.3 | $429K | +7.7% | #10 of 387 |
| 3Grand Forks, ND-MN | 63 | 402 | 92.1 | $406K | +0.8% | #106 of 387 |
| 4Minot, ND | 44 | 344 | 108.2 | $367K | −2.4% | #231 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Wahpeton, ND-MN | 73 | 90 | 94.7 | $404K | 0.0% | #62 of 538 |
| 2Jamestown, ND | 59 | 84 | 89.0 | $401K | −0.6% | #176 of 538 |
| 3Williston, ND | 55 | 177 | 116.8 | $366K | +1.4% | #215 of 538 |
| 4Dickinson, ND | 45 | 192 | 123.8 | $324K | +0.7% | #323 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Morton County, ND | 80 | 108 | 77.4 | $514K | +3.8% | #141 of 2,405 |
| 2McKenzie County, ND | 73 | 60 | 100.1 | $461K | +2.8% | #321 of 2,405 |
| 3Burleigh County, ND | 67 | 378 | 91.6 | $461K | +4.7% | #486 of 2,405 |
| 4Cass County, ND | 64 | 848 | 101.0 | $391K | +9.1% | #620 of 2,405 |
| 5Grand Forks County, ND | 54 | 300 | 95.9 | $388K | +1.9% | #1,021 of 2,405 |
| 6Richland County, ND | 50 | 71 | 103.7 | $376K | +1.2% | #1,187 of 2,405 |
| 7Stutsman County, ND | 48 | 84 | 89.0 | $401K | −0.6% | #1,267 of 2,405 |
| 8Ward County, ND | 46 | 289 | 101.2 | $394K | −2.4% | #1,342 of 2,405 |
| 9Williams County, ND | 46 | 177 | 116.8 | $366K | +1.4% | #1,358 of 2,405 |
| 10Barnes County, ND | 45 | 53 | 108.0 | $336K | −2.7% | #1,420 of 2,405 |
| 11Walsh County, ND | 42 | 45 | 102.3 | $363K | −3.3% | #1,532 of 2,405 |
| 12Stark County, ND | 38 | 159 | 117.5 | $335K | +0.5% | #1,704 of 2,405 |
| 13Rolette County, ND | 32 | 37 | 98.2 | $354K | −4.1% | #1,937 of 2,405 |
| 14Ramsey County, ND | 31 | 65 | 120.1 | $295K | −0.4% | #1,987 of 2,405 |
| McLean County, ND | Not scored | 50 | 114.2 | $353K | −0.2% | |
| Mountrail County, ND | Not scored | 71 | 182.0 | $221K | −4.2% | |
| Mercer County, ND | Not scored | 49 | 136.3 | $292K | +1.1% | |
| Traill County, ND | Not scored | 37 | 111.0 | $372K | −0.8% | |
| Pembina County, ND | Not scored | 34 | 114.4 | $326K | −3.8% | |
| Bottineau County, ND | Not scored | 46 | 172.0 | $236K | −1.6% | |
| Benson County, ND | Not scored | 19 | 93.8 | $367K | −3.0% | |
| Ransom County, ND | Not scored | 24 | 102.7 | $368K | −1.5% | |
| McHenry County, ND | Not scored | 36 | 160.4 | $242K | −3.9% | |
| Dickey County, ND | Not scored | 31 | 158.0 | $240K | −1.5% | |
| LaMoure County, ND | Not scored | 23 | 131.8 | $289K | +1.0% |
Show all 53 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunn County, ND | Not scored | 18 | 114.6 | $397K | −0.9% | |
| Pierce County, ND | Not scored | 21 | 113.3 | $313K | −3.6% | |
| Wells County, ND | Not scored | 20 | 111.9 | $323K | −5.9% | |
| Sargent County, ND | Not scored | 15 | 85.7 | $454K | −3.4% | |
| Sioux County, ND | Not scored | 14 | 125.9 | $240K | −5.4% | |
| Cavalier County, ND | Not scored | 22 | 141.0 | $279K | −5.4% | |
| Foster County, ND | Not scored | 16 | 104.5 | $396K | −5.1% | |
| Emmons County, ND | Not scored | 18 | 117.8 | $302K | −2.4% | |
| Nelson County, ND | Not scored | 21 | 157.0 | $235K | −1.0% | |
| Bowman County, ND | Not scored | 21 | 162.7 | $231K | −7.1% | |
| McIntosh County, ND | Not scored | 13 | 108.7 | $307K | −2.5% | |
| Hettinger County, ND | Not scored | 11 | 97.3 | $374K | +0.4% | |
| Kidder County, ND | Not scored | 21 | 179.5 | $192K | +0.5% | |
| Eddy County, ND | Not scored | 10 | 85.3 | $390K | +0.1% | |
| Renville County, ND | Not scored | 19 | 196.1 | $193K | +2.9% | |
| Grant County, ND | Not scored | 9 | 85.0 | $407K | −3.5% | |
| Griggs County, ND | Not scored | 15 | 151.2 | $242K | −2.5% | |
| Divide County, ND | Not scored | 15 | 147.6 | $288K | −4.2% | |
| Burke County, ND | Not scored | 16 | 177.0 | $257K | −2.7% | |
| Adams County, ND | Not scored | 11 | 106.8 | $323K | +3.7% | |
| Towner County, ND | Not scored | 13 | 131.4 | $274K | −5.0% | |
| Oliver County, ND | Not scored | 4 | 55.2 | $769K | +1.7% | |
| Logan County, ND | Not scored | 6 | 77.2 | $438K | −1.3% | |
| Steele County, ND | Not scored | 7 | 86.8 | $456K | −0.1% | |
| Golden Valley County, ND | Not scored | 10 | 143.1 | $283K | +4.8% | |
| Sheridan County, ND | Not scored | 4 | 59.3 | $599K | +2.7% | |
| Billings County, ND | Not scored | 15 | 368.6 | $118K | +15.2% | |
| Slope County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 26.7 | $1.4M | −9.9% |
Markets with fewer than 5 restaurants and cafes on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many restaurants and cafes are in North Dakota?
There are 3,480 restaurants and cafes on map listings in North Dakota as of September 2026. 1,249 of them (36%) are chain locations. The listings count every restaurant, cafe, bar, bakery and food truck. Official counts show 1,343 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in 2023, up 7.5% from 2019. Another 215 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in North Dakota spend on food away from home?
About $1.3B a year, or $3,940 per household. That is 3% below the U.S. average (an index of 97, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,480 restaurants and cafes on map listings, it comes to $375K per restaurant. It is estimated from the incomes of the 331,063 households in North Dakota and national spending patterns by income.
How does North Dakota compare with the U.S. for restaurants and cafes?
North Dakota has 105.1 restaurants and cafes per 10,000 households, 4% below the U.S. rate of 109.8. Spending per restaurant is $375K, in line with the U.S. figure of $371K. At the national ratio of restaurants and cafes to household spending, North Dakota would have about 3,517, against 3,480 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 247 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. The official count rose 7.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.0% for the U.S.
Which market in North Dakota has the highest market score for restaurants and cafes?
Among 4 scored metro areas in or partly in North Dakota, the Bismarck metro area scores highest, at 84 (high). Among 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Dakota, the Wahpeton area scores highest, at 73 (upper middle). Among 14 scored counties in North Dakota, Morton County scores highest, at 80 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. North Dakota scores 62 for restaurants and cafes (upper middle), #12 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in North Dakota. It maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Restaurants and cafes in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for restaurants and cafes across the U.S. · All business types in North Dakota
Related business types in North Dakota
- Sit-down restaurants1,664 listings
- Fast food and sandwich shops425 listings
- Pizza333 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes476 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops215 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in North Dakota?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.