Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
McAllen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ 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 1.8 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $8,106 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 98°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($158,700 vs $254,900)
70% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fargo
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $8,106/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Median Income
$8,106
$64,432 vs $56,326/yr
Fargo
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 89.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
70% lower
150.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$96k less
$158,700 vs $254,900
McAllen
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $955 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and McAllen wins 13. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $158,700 median home), income ($64,432 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and McAllen, TX are about 1,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.