What it's like to live in West Fargo
West Fargo is a small city in North Dakota with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. West Fargo deals with brutally cold winters, snowy winters, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Brutally cold winters
- Snowy winters — 51" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How West Fargo compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Fargo
Based on West Fargo's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,222
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,440 a year
- 39% of West Fargo renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$64,380
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $32,190
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 21% below US
$1,111/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,111 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $321,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $321,900 · 39% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 47% below US
2.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.3%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 44% below US
185 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 957/100k · West Fargo Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 33% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.3 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 2°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 17% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
17 public schools inside the boundary
There are 17 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Bottom line
West Fargo's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are brutally cold winters and snowy winters. A year of median rent ($1,111/mo) equals 15% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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