Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Fargo leads 15 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
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 7.7 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $21,580 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
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
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($96,900 vs $254,900)
32% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $21,580/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% 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 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$21,580
$64,432 vs $42,852/yr
Fargo
Unemployment
7.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Violent Crime
32% lower
337.2 vs 498.2 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$158k less
$96,900 vs $254,900
Reading
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $942 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 15 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 15 and Reading wins 8. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $96,900 median home), income ($64,432 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Reading, PA are about 1,134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.