Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Fargo
North Dakota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($167,900 vs $254,900)
48% less violent crime than Fargo
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 28°F vs 17°F
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fargo, ND
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$2,463
$66,895 vs $64,432/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
48% lower
261.5 vs 498.2 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$87k less
$167,900 vs $254,900
Fargo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $900 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $64,432 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 127,319 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 15 and Fargo wins 8. 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 Cedar Rapids to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $254,900 median home), income ($66,895 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Fargo, ND are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.