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Living in
Fargo.
About
Life in Fargo
The job market is genuinely strong: unemployment sits at 2.6%, and the economy has diversified well beyond agriculture into healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and retail, anchored by institutions like Sanford Health and North Dakota State University. You'll find a solid median household income of around $66,000, and with 43% of residents holding a college degree, there's an educated, professional community here—though you should expect to rely on a car, as the average commute is about 16 minutes and sprawl is real. The winters here are legitimately brutal; January averages around 9 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll get roughly 51 inches of snow annually, and you're looking at about 43 days where temperatures drop to zero or below.
Fargo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Foreign-Born
9.5%
Broadband Internet
88.3%
of households
Population Growth
+8.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.5% foreign-born, most often from Liberia
Who lives in Fargo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fargo, the largest foreign-born group is from Liberia (17.2%), and 3.0% of residents speak Other at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.8%
of households
Married Couples
35.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.09
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for ND
Rent, home values, and income in Fargo
In Fargo, home values are 13% above the ND average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,492
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $321,568 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for ND
Unemployment in Fargo and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Fargo is close to the ND average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Fargo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Fargo, ND-MN metro area
Commute15.5 min avg
How Fargo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fargo, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Hector International Airport (FAR)
Small hub599k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 15% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fargo runs 15% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
377.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,260
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fargo Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cass County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cass County, which includes Fargo, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 15 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $500 |
| 2023 | 23 | Flood | $4.8M |
| 2022 | 36 | Blizzard | None reported |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 39 | Blizzard | $60,000 |
| 2018 | 30 | Hail | Not estimated |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cass County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cass County, which includes Fargo, is typically good — 275 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
275
per year
Moderate Days
75
per year
Unhealthy Days
7
per year
Cass County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 2°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fargo has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 2°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
52°/30°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
21°/2°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
24.7"
Annual Snowfall
52.7"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
183
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
109
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°F | -2°F | 0.67" |
| Feb | 22°F | 1°F | 0.66" |
| Mar | 35°F | 16°F | 1.15" |
| Apr | 53°F | 30°F | 1.58" |
| May | 68°F | 44°F | 3.10" |
| Jun | 77°F | 55°F | 4.33" |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 3.71" |
| Aug | 80°F | 57°F | 2.74" |
| Sep | 72°F | 47°F | 2.50" |
| Oct | 56°F | 34°F | 2.24" |
| Nov | 38°F | 20°F | 0.89" |
| Dec | 24°F | 7°F | 0.83" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fargo
Fargo has 4 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
6.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Fargo VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Sanford Medical Center Fargo
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Sanford Medical Center Fargo · 801 Broadway North
- Outpatient center: Sanford Medical Building · 1720 University Dr S, Fargo
Essentia Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Prairie St John's
Psychiatric
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education12.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fargo
Fargo's student/teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 42.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
29
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Fargo
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Public · 4-year · 9,471 students · in-state tuition $11,738 · 64% graduate · median earnings $65,925 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Minnesota State University Moorhead
3.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 3,072 students · in-state tuition $11,056 · 59% graduate · median earnings $55,234 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,829 students · in-state tuition $32,480 · 70% graduate · median earnings $62,622 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fargo
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Fargo
Fargo Public Library
102 North 3rd Street, Fargo
Dr. James W Carlson Library
2801 32nd Ave S, Fargo
Northport Library
2714 N Broadway, Fargo
Cities Near Fargo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fargo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fargo FAQ
Is Fargo, North Dakota affordable?⌄
Fargo's median rent is $946/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,998/year. Median home value is $281,900.
Is Fargo, North Dakota safe?⌄
Fargo's violent crime rate was 378 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3260 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fargo, North Dakota?⌄
Fargo has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fargo, North Dakota?⌄
The cost of living in Fargo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $946/month and median household income is $66,998/year. The median home value is $281,900. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fargo, North Dakota?⌄
The average commute in Fargo is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from