Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Fargo
North Dakota
12
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 17°F
Homes cost $24k less ($230,500 vs $254,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fargo by $6,729/yr
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 3.6%)
Fargo, ND
Pros
40% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.6%)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($900 vs $1,066)
Households earn $6,729 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$24k less
$230,500 vs $254,900
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$6,729
$64,432 vs $57,703/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
40% lower
498.2 vs 823.7 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ 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 | — | 11.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 127,319 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 10 and Fargo wins 12. 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 Chattanooga to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $254,900 median home), income ($57,703 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Fargo, ND are about 1,012 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.