Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Paradise, NV
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Paradise
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,224
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
189,733 ✓ 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 5.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($900 vs $1,192)
Homes cost $79k less ($254,900 vs $333,800)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,208 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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
Paradise, NV
Pros
81% less violent crime than Fargo
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 17°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,800
Median income trails Fargo by $9,208/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 100.1 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$9,208
$64,432 vs $55,224/yr
Fargo
Median Home Value
$79k less
$254,900 vs $333,800
Fargo
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.9% unemployment
Paradise
Violent Crime
81% lower
94.1 vs 498.2 per 100k
Paradise
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Paradise, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $333,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,192 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $55,224 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 23.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 85.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 4.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 189,733 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Paradise's 100.1 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 12 and Paradise 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 Paradise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $333,800 median home), income ($64,432 vs $55,224), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Paradise, NV are about 1,200 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.