NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Minot, ND

Metro Market Score 62.5 (Difficult), ranked #280 of 378 metros. 318 establishments, 4,848 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 62.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

With a 1.46 location quotient, Minot has an outsized retail trade presence relative to its population. That concentration (index: 94.7) creates a mature local market where supplier networks are established but differentiation matters more.

Industry Concentration
94.7
LQ: 1.46
Rank #358 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
56.6
$38,551 avg wage
Growth Trend
58.7
Employment growth index
Rank #157 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
61.7
YoY wage change index

318 Retail Trade Firms in Minot

318
Establishments
+100.0% YoY
4,848
Total Employment
+0.0% YoY
$38,551
Average Annual Wage
+0.0% YoY
1.46
Location Quotient
Above national avg
Within North Dakota
#3 of 3
retail trade metros in state
North Dakota state rank
#41 of 51
for retail trade entry risk
vs State Median
+15.3
worse than median (47.2)

Minot vs North Dakota Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to North Dakota overall. The state ranks #41/51 for entry risk.

Measure Minot ND Statewide
Overall Score 62.5 Difficult 49.9 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #280 of 378 metros #41 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Minot

Retail Trade in Other North Dakota Metros

Retail Trade Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Minot's 62.5 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Retail Trade in States Bordering North Dakota

State-level entry risk for retail trade in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Browse Retail Trade in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for retail trade across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Minot's retail trade sector, the industry concentration component (94.7) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.