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Living in
West Fargo.
About
Life in West Fargo
West Fargo feels like a prosperous suburb that's quickly outgrowing that label — it's added thousands of residents in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down. The job market is genuinely strong here, especially if you work in tech or manufacturing, with a 2.2% unemployment rate and a median household income pushing $91,000. That said, housing isn't cheap anymore; median home values hover around $321,900, and rent runs about $1,111 monthly, so it's not the bargain it might have been a decade ago.
West Fargo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
5.1%
Broadband Internet
92.8%
of households
Population Growth
+6.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.1% foreign-born, most often from Nepal
Who lives in West Fargo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Fargo, the largest foreign-born group is from Nepal (9.3%), and 1.1% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
26.0%
of residents
65 and Older
12.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.3%
of households
Married Couples
50.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.52
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 16% above ND average
Rent, home values, and income in West Fargo
In West Fargo, rent runs 16% above the ND average, and home values are 29% above the ND average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,959
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2004
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $364,596 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for ND
Unemployment in West Fargo and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in West 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 West 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
Commute17.3 min avg
How West Fargo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Fargo, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 90% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 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 44% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Fargo runs 44% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
185.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
957.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
West 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 West 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 West 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
West 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
25.0"
Annual Snowfall
51.4"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Fargo
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside West Fargo's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Essentia Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Fargo
Prairie St John's
Psychiatric · 5.7 mi away · Fargo
Sanford Medical Center Fargo
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Fargo
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.
Education12.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Fargo
West Fargo's student/teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 42.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
17
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Fargo (within 15 miles)
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
5.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,471 students · in-state tuition $11,738 · 64% graduate · median earnings $65,925 (10 yrs after entry)
Minnesota State University Moorhead
6.9 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 West Fargo
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in West Fargo
West Fargo Public Library
215 Third Street East, West Fargo
Cities Near West Fargo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Fargo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Fargo FAQ
Is West Fargo, North Dakota affordable?⌄
West Fargo's median rent is $1,111/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $90,665/year. Median home value is $321,900.
Is West Fargo, North Dakota safe?⌄
West Fargo's violent crime rate was 185 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 957 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Fargo, North Dakota?⌄
West Fargo has an unemployment rate of 2.3%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Fargo, North Dakota?⌄
The cost of living in West Fargo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,111/month and median household income is $90,665/year. The median home value is $321,900. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Fargo, North Dakota?⌄
The average commute in West Fargo is 17 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