Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Fargo
North Dakota
12
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.
Concord, NC
Pros
68% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $19,048 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fargo
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $359/mo less ($900 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Homes cost $33k less ($254,900 vs $288,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Concord by $19,048/yr
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
Concord
Median Income
$19,048
$83,480 vs $64,432/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
68% lower
159.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
Concord
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$33k less
$254,900 vs $288,100
Fargo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $254,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $64,432 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Concord wins 11 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 Concord to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $254,900 median home), income ($83,480 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Fargo, ND are about 1,153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.