Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Cambridge leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $57,107 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 17°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fargo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $743k less ($254,900 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1728/mo less ($900 vs $2,628)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $57,107/yr
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
Cambridge
Median Income
$57,107
$121,539 vs $64,432/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
12% lower
436.7 vs 498.2 per 100k
Cambridge
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$743k less
$254,900 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $254,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $64,432 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.6% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 95.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 44.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 13 and Fargo wins 10. 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 Cambridge to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $254,900 median home), income ($121,539 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Fargo, ND are about 1,296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.