Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Fargo
North Dakota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($202,900 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 17°F
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fargo
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.6%)
Fargo, ND
Pros
69% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $335/mo less ($900 vs $1,235)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Households earn $6,083 more per year on average
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
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$52k less
$202,900 vs $254,900
Baltimore
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$6,083
$64,432 vs $58,349/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
69% lower
498.2 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 127,319 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 10 and Fargo wins 13. 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 Baltimore to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $254,900 median home), income ($58,349 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Fargo, ND are about 1,142 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.