Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $939/mo less ($900 vs $1,839)
Homes cost $199k less ($254,900 vs $454,300)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $50,747/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
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $50,747 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fargo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$199k less
$254,900 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Median Income
$50,747
$115,179 vs $64,432/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
73% lower
132.2 vs 498.2 per 100k
Gilbert
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 7 and Gilbert wins 16. 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 Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $454,300 median home), income ($64,432 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Gilbert, AZ are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.