Which City Is The Mobile Home Capital Of North Dakota 2025?

When you think of mobile home parks, North Dakota isn't really a state that comes to mind. 

Let's face it, our winters in North Dakota can be brutally cold and people in mobile homes are subject to costly broken or frozen pipes, and other assorted issues that can get spendy real fast. As somebody who spent a couple of years back in my college days living in a mobile home park, you quickly learn the importance of good heat tape.

With that being said, North Dakota does have its fair share of trailer/mobile home parks.

Especially in two particular cities.  More on that in a second. Although, living in a mobile home park isn't for me, at the time it was better than throwing away rent money.

Keep in mind you will still have lot rent, at least you'll get some of that money back when you decide to sell your trailer.  Granted, not like selling a home, but for a young family or college kid, it's not a terrible investment.

Now, two North Dakota cities share the dubious title of "The Mobile Home Capital of North Dakota."  Yep, we have a tie for the #1 spot which is a change from 2022.  According to MHVillage, these are the top 11 cities for the number of Mobile home parks in the state.

#11  Tie West Fargo with 4 trailer parks.

#11 Tie Ellendale with 4 trailer parks. (New entry)

#7 Tie Grand Forks with 5 trailer parks.

#7 Tie Jamestown with 5 trailer parks

#7 Tie Valley City with 5 trailer parks

#7 Tie Devils Lake with 5 trailer parks

#6 Dickinson with 6 trailer parks

#5  Fargo with 7 trailer parks

#3 Tie Mandan with 9 trailer parks (Mandan added one new mobile home park)

#3 Tie  Williston with 9 trailer parks

#1 Minot with 24 trailer parks

#1 Bismarck with 24 trailer parks

Why do we have so many mobile home parks in western North Dakota?

I asked former Mayor Steve Bakken of Bismarck several years ago and his answer made sense. "Central and western North Dakota on average have milder winters than other parts of the state." Just look at Fargo with all that population and they only have 7 mobile home parks. The west is just a more viable option for mobile home parks.