Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Fargo
North Dakota
12
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $16,634/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fargo
Fargo, ND
Pros
Households earn $16,634 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.6%)
Rent averages $145/mo less ($900 vs $1,045)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
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
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
18% lower
406.1 vs 498.2 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$13k less
$242,300 vs $254,900
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$16,634
$64,432 vs $47,798/yr
Fargo
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 44.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Fargo wins 12. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $254,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Fargo, ND are about 1,136 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.