Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha 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
Omaha
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $199/mo less ($900 vs $1,099)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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 Omaha by $5,770/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Omaha, NE
Pros
26% less violent crime than Fargo
Homes cost $45k less ($210,300 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 17°F
Households earn $5,770 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.2% unemployment
Omaha
Median Income
$5,770
$70,202 vs $64,432/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
26% lower
369.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$45k less
$210,300 vs $254,900
Omaha
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,099 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $70,202 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Omaha 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $210,300 median home), income ($64,432 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Omaha, NE are about 389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.