Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa 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
Mesa
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
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 $73k less ($254,900 vs $327,700)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 106°F
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
Median income trails Mesa by $9,334/yr
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 17°F
Households earn $9,334 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$73k less
$254,900 vs $327,700
Fargo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Median Income
$9,334
$73,766 vs $64,432/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
3% lower
482.7 vs 498.2 per 100k
Mesa
Summer Heat
24.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 104⚠ 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 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Mesa 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $327,700 median home), income ($64,432 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Mesa, AZ are about 1,214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.