Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($254,900 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $789/mo less ($900 vs $1,689)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $25,288/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
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $25,288 more per year on average
6% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 17°F
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$233k less
$254,900 vs $488,100
Longmont
Median Income
$25,288
$89,720 vs $64,432/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
6% lower
469.3 vs 498.2 per 100k
Longmont
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 47.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Longmont 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 Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $488,100 median home), income ($64,432 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Longmont, CO are about 620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.