Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Hollywood, FL
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 20 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Hollywood
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $563/mo less ($900 vs $1,463)
Homes cost $90k less ($254,900 vs $345,300)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fargo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$2,474
$64,432 vs $61,958/yr
Fargo
Median Home Value
$90k less
$254,900 vs $345,300
Fargo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Hollywood
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Hollywood, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $345,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,463⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $61,958 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.8% ✓ 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 | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 31.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 88.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 65.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 152,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 56.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 19.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Hollywood's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 20 categories. Fargo wins 12 and Hollywood wins 8. 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 Hollywood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $345,300 median home), income ($64,432 vs $61,958), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Hollywood, FL are about 1,704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.