Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, tech jobs were heavily concentrated in a five coastal cities, four of which are on the West Coast, but the abrupt rise of remote working (not to mention waves of tech layoffs) has freed tech workers to move to places less expensive than Silicon Valley. Typically, techies fleeing searching for cheaper rent still want to live in cities with the usual urban amenities, like coffee places with good WiFi, maybe an arts scene, and some places where their favorite bands will perform while on tour.
What mattered most to Travis High, a systems engineer formerly living in a forested area of Washington state, was moving to where he could afford some land, not just a bigger apartment for less rent. His search landed him a job at Pro IT, in Minot, North Dakota, a city of fewer than 50,000 people on the high plains of the Upper Midwest that isn’t on any list of emerging tech centers we’ve ever seen.
Minot has a small-town feel, probably because it is basically a small town. Things to do in town include the North Dakota State Fair and the Norsk Høstfest, the largest Scandinavian festival in North America, though shoveling snow is a big activity for most of the year. Nonetheless, there is an active tech scene centered around Start Up Minot, a program designed to help entrepreneurs in the area execute their business ideas. It offers a 10-week, cohort-based class called Start Up Minot Academy powered by CO.STARTERS, as well as a monthly business showcase/networking event that focuses on sharing the stories of new and growing companies, while connecting like-minded business leaders.
The number of tech jobs in North Dakota has increased by more than 17% over the past decade. The average wage for tech position in the state is $66,113, which isn’t big money on the coasts but it still 27% higher than the state average and is very good money in a city where plenty of apartments are available for around $1,000 per month.
We asked Travis High what brought him to Minot and how well he is liking it there.
Grit Daily: Where were you living before the city you are living in now?
Travis High: I was living in Washington state, about an hour and a half south of Seattle.
Grit Daily: Why did you move from where you were living and why did you choose where you are living now?
Travis High: I have ambitions of owning property and I found that the cost of living on the West coast has made achieving these goals unsustainable. One thing I was certain I wanted was to move out of Washington state. It started with a look at the map and crossing off which states I definitely didn’t want to move to and I found that a lot of the states I was willing to move to were in the upper Midwest region. I just started applying for jobs in a number of different states and North Dakota was the first one to reach and say “Hey, we want you here.” I fortunately didn’t have any debts or long-term commitments so if it wasn’t working out I could always try another state. So far, I think I’ve been a really great fit.
Grit Daily: How much of a factor was the cost of living, particularly housing?
Travis High: It was one of the main driving factors for me deciding to move out of state. The moment I decided to fully commit to moving out of state was when I saw a double wide trailer house selling for $500,000. It didn’t include property at all, it was just the house. It was also the main reason I had to turn down states like Montana or Colorado, for instance. I would have otherwise loved to live there but the price for housing was just as unsustainable for me as Washington.
Grit Daily: What do you miss from where you used to live?
Travis High: Everywhere in Washington looks like a postcard. It really is a beautiful state. Around here in North Dakota it’s really flat and there aren’t a whole lot of trees or mountains around. I still haven’t explored the whole state of North Dakota but from what I’ve seen it’s mostly farm lands and oil fields. Washington weather mostly consists of overcast and rain and that blocks a good portion of the sun out. North Dakota is incredibly bright comparatively and my eyes still haven’t adjusted.
Grit Daily: What do you like about where you live now?
Travis High: The majority of people I’ve met here have been genuinely friendly, upstanding, and accepting people. I was concerned about how well my car would handle the winter but the city does a good job of keeping the roads clear of snow and ice. The significantly lower rate of homelessness was a bit of a culture shock. It’s been nice not being begged for money constantly or having to worry about stepping on discarded needles or leaving something in my passenger seat that might result in a window getting broken. The cost of living is much more comfortable to manage. Not having a 10% sales tax on everything makes buying groceries, gas, and other amenities so much more affordable than before.
