Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Hartford
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
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 7.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $22,591 more per year on average
Rent averages $254/mo less ($900 vs $1,154)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
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
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($198,900 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 17°F
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $22,591/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$22,591
$64,432 vs $41,841/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
3% lower
498.2 vs 515.8 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
7.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Hartford
Median Home Value
$56k less
$198,900 vs $254,900
Hartford
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,154 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 51.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 121,057 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 14 and Hartford 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 Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $198,900 median home), income ($64,432 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Hartford, CT are about 1,239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.