Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Fargo leads 15 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
57% less violent crime than Houston
Rent averages $335/mo less ($900 vs $1,235)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
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
Houston, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 17°F
Homes cost $20k less ($235,000 vs $254,900)
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$3,992
$64,432 vs $60,440/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
57% lower
498.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Median Home Value
$20k less
$235,000 vs $254,900
Houston
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 15 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 15 and Houston 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $235,000 median home), income ($64,432 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Houston, TX are about 1,183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.