Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ 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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($123,000 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $21,968/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.6%)
Fargo, ND
Pros
60% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $21,968 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $95/mo less ($900 vs $995)
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
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$132k less
$123,000 vs $254,900
Birmingham
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$21,968
$64,432 vs $42,464/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
60% lower
498.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 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 | 328⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 127,319 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories. Birmingham 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 Birmingham to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $254,900 median home), income ($42,464 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Fargo, ND are about 1,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.