Fargo, North Dakota

Northern Plains energy

Midwest Fargo, ND-MN Metro

U.S. News (2025)

#51 Best Places to Live

Forbes (2024)

#7 Best Small Cities for Jobs

WhereAtHome Score

77.9

C+

out of 100

Overview

Fargo combines North Dakota State University energy with a surprisingly vibrant downtown scene. The city offers very low unemployment, affordable housing, and a growing tech sector. Harsh winters are balanced by strong community connections and economic opportunity.

Key Highlights

  • North Dakota State University
  • Very low unemployment rate
  • Extremely affordable housing
  • Growing tech startup scene
  • Vibrant downtown Fargo
  • Strong community spirit

Key Metrics

Population 2024

129,798

Source: Census ACS

Median Home Value 2026

$326,637

Source: Zillow ZHVI

Median Household Income 2023

$62,891

Source: Census ACS

Average Commute 2023

16.8 min

Source: Census ACS

Walk Score 2025

46

Source: Walk Score

Crime Level 2024

Low

Source: FBI CDE

School Rating

2025

B (7.2/10)

Source: Curated

Cost of Living Index 2025

94 (100 = U.S. avg)

Source: Curated

2024 Presidential Election

Cass County (county-level results)

45%
53%
Democrat 40,304
Republican 47,873
Leans R+8.4

Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more

Climate

Summer High

82°F

Winter Low

2°F

Annual Rainfall

22"

Sunny Days

196

Amenities & Infrastructure

85+ Parks

Green spaces and recreation

3 Major Hospitals

Healthcare access

2 Universities

Higher education institutions

Public Transit Available

Bus, rail, or metro service

Major Employers

Sanford Health NDSU Microsoft Border States Electric

Score Breakdown

6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.

Housing Affordability 62.9/100

Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)

Income vs Housing 53/100

How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)

Commute Time 82.4/100

Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)

Crime 80/100

Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)

Walkability 46/100

Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)

Purchasing Power 47.6/100

Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)

WhereAtHome Score 77.9

Location

Fargo, ND (46.8772, -96.7898)
View on Google Maps

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Last Updated: 2026-07-01

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.

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Nearby Cities

Moorhead

MN

C

West Fargo

ND

C

Grand Forks

ND

C

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