Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 14 of 22 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
Huntsville
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
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 1.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($900 vs $1,020)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
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
Median income trails Huntsville by $3,442/yr
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Homes cost $19k less ($236,300 vs $254,900)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,442 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Huntsville
Median Income
$3,442
$67,874 vs $64,432/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
3% lower
483.2 vs 498.2 per 100k
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$19k less
$236,300 vs $254,900
Huntsville
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 14 of 22 categories. Fargo wins 8 and Huntsville wins 14. 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 Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $236,300 median home), income ($64,432 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Huntsville, AL are about 991 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.