Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Fargo
North Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($121,100 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fargo by $14,579/yr
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.6%)
Fargo, ND
Pros
59% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $14,579 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
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
Evansville
Median Home Value
$134k less
$121,100 vs $254,900
Evansville
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 81.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.8 on the COL index
Fargo
Median Income
$14,579
$64,432 vs $49,853/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
59% lower
498.2 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 6.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 9 and Fargo wins 14. 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 Evansville to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $254,900 median home), income ($49,853 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Fargo, ND are about 774 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.