Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $857/mo less ($900 vs $1,757)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.6%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
Homes cost $38k less ($254,900 vs $292,700)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $22,951/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
Riverview, FL
Pros
74% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $22,951 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.6%)
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$38k less
$254,900 vs $292,700
Fargo
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Riverview
Median Income
$22,951
$87,383 vs $64,432/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
74% lower
131.1 vs 498.2 per 100k
Riverview
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $292,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 12 and Riverview 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $292,700 median home), income ($64,432 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Riverview, FL are about 1,533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.