Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $825/mo less ($900 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $125k less ($254,900 vs $379,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $29,930/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
Richardson, TX
Pros
71% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $29,930 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 17°F
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$125k less
$254,900 vs $379,800
Fargo
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Median Income
$29,930
$94,362 vs $64,432/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
71% lower
146.7 vs 498.2 per 100k
Richardson
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Richardson wins 13. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $379,800 median home), income ($64,432 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Richardson, TX are about 960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.