Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria 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
Peoria
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $738/mo less ($900 vs $1,638)
Homes cost $129k less ($254,900 vs $383,600)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $22,327/yr
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
Peoria, AZ
Pros
49% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $22,327 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fargo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$129k less
$254,900 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$22,327
$86,759 vs $64,432/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
49% lower
254.7 vs 498.2 per 100k
Peoria
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $383,600 median home), income ($64,432 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Peoria, AZ are about 1,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.