Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa 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
Nampa
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $301/mo less ($900 vs $1,201)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Homes cost $35k less ($254,900 vs $289,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
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 Nampa by $2,914/yr
Nampa, ID
Pros
29% less violent crime than Fargo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Households earn $2,914 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$35k less
$254,900 vs $289,400
Nampa
Median Income
$2,914
$67,346 vs $64,432/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
29% lower
353.1 vs 498.2 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.0% vs 3.6% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Nampa 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 Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $289,400 median home), income ($64,432 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Nampa, ID are about 984 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.