Market rankings · North Dakota
Sit-down restaurants in North Dakota
Markets across North Dakota ranked by the Groundwork market score for sit-down restaurants, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 1,664
- 626 chain locations (38%)
- Official establishments
- 582
- +0.9% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $1.3B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 50.3
- 18% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $784K
- 18% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #6 of 51
- Market score 70 · Upper middle
A site report maps the sit-down restaurants 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
As of September 2026, map listings count 1,664 sit-down restaurants in North Dakota. Chain locations make up 38% of them, against 29% across the U.S. That comes to 50.3 for every 10,000 households, 18% below the U.S. rate of 61.3.
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 is about $784K of household spending for each restaurant on map listings, 18% above the U.S. figure of $664K. That spending covers all food away from home, which sit-down restaurants share with other businesses in the trade.
In 2023, official counts showed 582 businesses with payroll in North Dakota classed as full-service restaurants, up 0.9% from 2019. That is one for every 569 households, against one for every 500 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 1.5% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 31 SBA-backed loans worth $16.7M have gone to businesses classed as full-service restaurants in North Dakota.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Dakota ranks #6 for sit-down restaurants, with a Groundwork market score of 70 (upper middle). Of the 4 scored metro areas in or partly in North Dakota, the Bismarck metro area scores highest (86). Of the 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Dakota, the Wahpeton area scores highest (67).
Every market in North Dakota for sit-down restaurants
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 | 86 | 230 | 41.1 | $1M | +4.5% | #7 of 387 |
| 2Fargo, ND-MN | 85 | 510 | 46.2 | $857K | +7.7% | #9 of 387 |
| 3Grand Forks, ND-MN | 67 | 192 | 44.0 | $851K | +0.8% | #61 of 387 |
| 4Minot, ND | 60 | 166 | 52.2 | $760K | −2.4% | #112 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Wahpeton, ND-MN | 67 | 41 | 43.1 | $886K | 0.0% | #90 of 538 |
| 2Jamestown, ND | 61 | 34 | 36.0 | $990K | −0.6% | #146 of 538 |
| 3Dickinson, ND | 61 | 76 | 49.0 | $819K | +0.7% | #152 of 538 |
| 4Williston, ND | 61 | 95 | 62.7 | $681K | +1.4% | #159 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Morton County, ND | 85 | 51 | 36.6 | $1.1M | +3.8% | #64 of 2,405 |
| 2Burleigh County, ND | 75 | 176 | 42.6 | $990K | +4.7% | #243 of 2,405 |
| 3Cass County, ND | 69 | 430 | 51.2 | $772K | +9.1% | #414 of 2,405 |
| 4Grand Forks County, ND | 65 | 136 | 43.5 | $857K | +1.9% | #532 of 2,405 |
| 5McKenzie County, ND | 58 | 34 | 56.7 | $813K | +2.8% | #818 of 2,405 |
| 6Ward County, ND | 58 | 141 | 49.4 | $807K | −2.4% | #820 of 2,405 |
| 7Barnes County, ND | 57 | 23 | 46.9 | $774K | −2.7% | #865 of 2,405 |
| 8Stark County, ND | 55 | 65 | 48.0 | $821K | +0.5% | #942 of 2,405 |
| 9Stutsman County, ND | 54 | 34 | 36.0 | $990K | −0.6% | #972 of 2,405 |
| 10Richland County, ND | 53 | 31 | 45.3 | $861K | +1.2% | #1,026 of 2,405 |
| 11Williams County, ND | 52 | 95 | 62.7 | $681K | +1.4% | #1,102 of 2,405 |
| 12Rolette County, ND | 38 | 14 | 37.1 | $934K | −4.1% | #1,711 of 2,405 |
| 13Walsh County, ND | 36 | 22 | 50.0 | $742K | −3.3% | #1,789 of 2,405 |
| 14Ramsey County, ND | 31 | 35 | 64.7 | $548K | −0.4% | #2,008 of 2,405 |
| McLean County, ND | Not scored | 18 | 41.1 | $979K | −0.2% | |
| Mountrail County, ND | Not scored | 41 | 105.1 | $383K | −4.2% | |
| Mercer County, ND | Not scored | 22 | 61.2 | $650K | +1.1% | |
| Traill County, ND | Not scored | 18 | 54.0 | $764K | −0.8% | |
| Pembina County, ND | Not scored | 12 | 40.4 | $922K | −3.8% | |
| Bottineau County, ND | Not scored | 26 | 97.2 | $417K | −1.6% | |
| Benson County, ND | Not scored | 8 | 39.5 | $871K | −3.0% | |
| Ransom County, ND | Not scored | 12 | 51.3 | $736K | −1.5% | |
| McHenry County, ND | Not scored | 17 | 75.8 | $512K | −3.9% | |
| Dickey County, ND | Not scored | 13 | 66.3 | $572K | −1.5% | |
| LaMoure County, ND | Not scored | 9 | 51.6 | $738K | +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 | 5 | 31.8 | $1.4M | −0.9% | |
| Pierce County, ND | Not scored | 12 | 64.7 | $548K | −3.6% | |
| Wells County, ND | Not scored | 10 | 56.0 | $646K | −5.9% | |
| Sargent County, ND | Not scored | 7 | 40.0 | $972K | −3.4% | |
| Sioux County, ND | Not scored | 7 | 62.9 | $480K | −5.4% | |
| Cavalier County, ND | Not scored | 9 | 57.7 | $682K | −5.4% | |
| Foster County, ND | Not scored | 7 | 45.7 | $905K | −5.1% | |
| Emmons County, ND | Not scored | 5 | 32.7 | $1.1M | −2.4% | |
| Nelson County, ND | Not scored | 10 | 74.7 | $494K | −1.0% | |
| Bowman County, ND | Not scored | 14 | 108.4 | $347K | −7.1% | |
| McIntosh County, ND | Not scored | 6 | 50.2 | $666K | −2.5% | |
| Hettinger County, ND | Not scored | 4 | 35.4 | $1M | +0.4% | |
| Kidder County, ND | Not scored | 10 | 85.5 | $402K | +0.5% | |
| Eddy County, ND | Not scored | 5 | 42.6 | $781K | +0.1% | |
| Renville County, ND | Not scored | 8 | 82.6 | $460K | +2.9% | |
| Grant County, ND | Not scored | 1 | 9.4 | $3.7M | −3.5% | |
| Griggs County, ND | Not scored | 7 | 70.6 | $519K | −2.5% | |
| Divide County, ND | Not scored | 7 | 68.9 | $618K | −4.2% | |
| Burke County, ND | Not scored | 11 | 121.7 | $374K | −2.7% | |
| Adams County, ND | Not scored | 9 | 87.4 | $395K | +3.7% | |
| Towner County, ND | Not scored | 9 | 91.0 | $396K | −5.0% | |
| Oliver County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 41.4 | $1M | +1.7% | |
| Logan County, ND | Not scored | 3 | 38.6 | $876K | −1.3% | |
| Steele County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 24.8 | $1.6M | −0.1% | |
| Golden Valley County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 28.6 | $1.4M | +4.8% | |
| Sheridan County, ND | Not scored | 2 | 29.6 | $1.2M | +2.7% | |
| Billings County, ND | Not scored | 6 | 147.4 | $296K | +15.2% | |
| Slope County, ND | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −9.9% |
Markets with fewer than 5 sit-down restaurants on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many sit-down restaurants are in North Dakota?
North Dakota has 1,664 sit-down restaurants on map listings as of September 2026. 626 of them (38%) are chain locations. The listings count restaurants of every cuisine, pizza included. Official counts show 582 businesses with payroll classed as full-service restaurants in 2023, up 0.9% from 2019. Official counts also show 59 one-person businesses without payroll.
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 1,664 sit-down restaurants on map listings, it comes to $784K per restaurant. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only sit-down restaurants. 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 sit-down restaurants?
North Dakota has 50.3 sit-down restaurants per 10,000 households, 18% below the U.S. rate of 61.3. Spending per restaurant is $784K, 18% above the U.S. figure of $664K. At the national ratio of sit-down restaurants to household spending, North Dakota would have about 1,965, against 1,664 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 569 households, against one for every 500 across the U.S. The official count rose 0.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +1.5% for the U.S.
Which market in North Dakota has the highest market score for sit-down restaurants?
Among 4 scored metro areas in or partly in North Dakota, the Bismarck metro area scores highest, at 86 (high). Among 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Dakota, the Wahpeton area scores highest, at 67 (upper middle). Among 14 scored counties in North Dakota, Morton County scores highest, at 85 (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 70 for sit-down restaurants (upper middle), #6 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 sit-down restaurants 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.
Sit-down restaurants in other states
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Top markets for sit-down restaurants across the U.S. · All business types in North Dakota
Related business types in North Dakota
- Restaurants and cafes3,480 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.