Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $452/mo less ($900 vs $1,352)
Homes cost $111k less ($254,900 vs $366,200)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $37,333/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
Hoover, AL
Pros
84% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $37,333 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 17°F
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$111k less
$254,900 vs $366,200
Hoover
Median Income
$37,333
$101,765 vs $64,432/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
84% lower
78.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
Hoover
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.6 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 8 and Hoover wins 15. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $366,200 median home), income ($64,432 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Hoover, AL are about 1,070 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.