Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Fargo
North Dakota
14
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 17°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fargo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $274k less ($254,900 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $485/mo less ($900 vs $1,385)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.6%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
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
Bellingham
Violent Crime
30% lower
350.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
Fargo
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$274k less
$254,900 vs $528,600
Fargo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.8% unemployment
Fargo
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $254,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 9 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 Bellingham to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $254,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Fargo, ND are about 1,191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.