Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 14 of 22 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Fargo
North Dakota
14
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.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 17°F
Homes cost $37k less ($217,700 vs $254,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fargo by $14,277/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.6%)
Fargo, ND
Pros
52% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $14,277 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $110/mo less ($900 vs $1,010)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
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
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$37k less
$217,700 vs $254,900
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$14,277
$64,432 vs $50,155/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
52% lower
498.2 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 127,319 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fargo leads 14 of 22 categories. Baton Rouge wins 8 and Fargo wins 14. 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 Baton Rouge to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $254,900 median home), income ($50,155 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Fargo, ND are about 1,175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.