THE DIRTBID REGIONAL MODEL · NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota Sitework Costs, Region by Region

Sitework in North Dakota on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as the rest of DirtBid: 5 cost regions and 53 counties, each with a soil-risk rating from USDA and USGS data. Fargo Metro runs highest at 0.87×; Grand Forks Metro lowest at 0.81×.

North Dakota multipliers and county ratings are planning-level: built from federal price and soil data, and not yet checked against local bids or a local estimator.

Cost regions
5
Counties in the model
53
Richmond Metro baseline
1.00×

Rest of North Dakota

0.84×Cost multiplier

Dominant ground: Williams, Zahl, Barnes

45 counties in this region. 24 of 45 rate high for water table. 20 of 45 rate high for dewatering. Deep frost protection is likely in 18 of 45. Highest risk score: Traill County (7 of 10).

Counties: Adams County, Barnes County, Benson County, Billings County, Bottineau County, Bowman County, Burke County, Cavalier County, Dickey County, Divide County, Dunn County, Eddy County, Emmons County, Foster County, Golden Valley County, Grant County, Griggs County, Hettinger County, Kidder County, LaMoure County, Logan County, McIntosh County, McKenzie County, McLean County, Mercer County, Mountrail County, Nelson County, Pembina County, Pierce County, Ramsey County, Ransom County, Richland County, Rolette County, Sargent County, Sheridan County, Sioux County, Slope County, Stark County, Steele County, Stutsman County, Towner County, Traill County, Walsh County, Wells County, Williams County

Fargo Metro

0.87×Cost multiplier

Dominant ground: Fargo, Hegne, Hamerly

1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for shrink-swell clay. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. Deep frost protection is likely in 1 of 1. Highest risk score: Cass County (7 of 10).

Counties: Cass County

Bismarck Metro

0.87×Cost multiplier

Dominant ground: Williams, Amor, Bowbells

3 counties in this region. 2 of 3 rate high for shallow rock. Highest risk score: Burleigh County (4 of 10).

Counties: Burleigh County, Morton County, Oliver County

Minot Metro

0.82×Cost multiplier

Dominant ground: Hamlet, Hecla, Ulen

3 counties in this region. 2 of 3 rate high for water table. Highest risk score: McHenry County (5 of 10).

Counties: McHenry County, Renville County, Ward County

Grand Forks Metro

0.81×Cost multiplier

Dominant ground: Bearden, Antler, Glyndon

1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Deep frost protection is likely in 1 of 1. Highest risk score: Grand Forks County (6 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.

Counties: Grand Forks County

FAQ

North Dakota Cost Questions

Which soil problems drive sitework cost in North Dakota?

From USDA soil survey data, the most common across the state: water table (28 of 53 counties rate high), dewatering (22 of 53 counties rate high), shallow rock (14 of 53 counties rate high). A parcel can differ from its county, so read the survey for your exact site.

Where do the North Dakota multipliers come from?

From the Commerce Department's Regional Price Parities, on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as Virginia. Across 29 reviewed regions that method missed by about 0.03 on average. They have not been checked against executed bids in North Dakota, so use them for planning, not a final bid.

How reliable are the North Dakota county ratings?

They are screening ratings from federal soil and geology data, not a local estimator's review and not a geotechnical report. Tested against 511 reviewed counties, they land within one level most of the time, and exact matches are less common. Get borings before you price a real site.

Soil Report

See what's under your North Dakota parcel

A $350 DirtBid AI Soil Report reads the official USDA survey for your exact parcel, flags the hazards above, and prices the risk — before you buy land or sign a contract.

Get a Soil Report — $350 See pricing