Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Fargo
North Dakota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($161,800 vs $254,900)
15% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 17°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (2.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $5,178/yr
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $160/mo less ($900 vs $1,060)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Households earn $5,178 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Violent Crime
15% lower
424.5 vs 498.2 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$93k less
$161,800 vs $254,900
Abilene
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.6% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 81.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.8 on the COL index
Fargo
Median Income
$5,178
$64,432 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.6% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 15.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 24.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 15 and Fargo wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $254,900 median home), income ($59,254 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Fargo, ND are about 1,007 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.