Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
63% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $6,364 more per year on average
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
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($146,700 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 3.6%)
Median income trails Fargo by $6,364/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Median Income
$6,364
$64,432 vs $58,068/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
63% lower
498.2 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 89.4 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$108k less
$146,700 vs $254,900
Peoria
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $917 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 17.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 26.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 13 and Peoria wins 10. 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 $146,700 median home), income ($64,432 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Peoria, IL are about 554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.