Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $382/mo less ($900 vs $1,282)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°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
Median income trails Odessa by $6,861/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Odessa, TX
Pros
37% less violent crime than Fargo
Homes cost $61k less ($193,500 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 17°F
Households earn $6,861 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Median Income
$6,861
$71,293 vs $64,432/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
37% lower
316.3 vs 498.2 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$61k less
$193,500 vs $254,900
Odessa
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Odessa wins 11. 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $193,500 median home), income ($64,432 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Odessa, TX are about 1,076 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.