Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Fargo leads 11 of 20 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $1008/mo less ($900 vs $1,908)
Homes cost $139k less ($254,900 vs $393,700)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $44,836/yr
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
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $44,836 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 17°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$139k less
$254,900 vs $393,700
Fargo
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Germantown
Median Income
$44,836
$109,268 vs $64,432/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $393,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 32.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fargo leads 11 of 20 categories. Fargo wins 11 and Germantown wins 9. 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $393,700 median home), income ($64,432 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Germantown, MD are about 1,118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.