Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Garland leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Garland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $521/mo less ($900 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°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
Median income trails Garland by $6,612/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Garland, TX
Pros
53% less violent crime than Fargo
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 17°F
Homes cost $26k less ($229,000 vs $254,900)
Households earn $6,612 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.6%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Garland
Median Income
$6,612
$71,044 vs $64,432/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
53% lower
232.7 vs 498.2 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$26k less
$229,000 vs $254,900
Garland
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $229,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,421⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $71,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 244,026 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 62.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Garland 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 Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $229,000 median home), income ($64,432 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Garland, TX are about 964 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.