Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 22 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
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $318/mo less ($900 vs $1,218)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rochester by $19,541/yr
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Rochester, MN
Pros
69% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $19,541 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 23°F vs 17°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$14k less
$254,900 vs $268,800
Rochester
Median Income
$19,541
$83,973 vs $64,432/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
69% lower
154.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 17.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 22.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 52.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Rochester wins 12. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $268,800 median home), income ($64,432 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Rochester, MN are about 288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.