Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,199 more per year on average
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
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($152,500 vs $254,900)
38% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.6%)
Median income trails Fargo by $6,199/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$6,199
$64,432 vs $58,233/yr
Fargo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
38% lower
307.5 vs 498.2 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$102k less
$152,500 vs $254,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $904 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 32.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Fort Wayne wins 13. 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 Fargo to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $152,500 median home), income ($64,432 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Fort Wayne, IN are about 704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.