Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 13 of 22 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($254,900 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $719/mo less ($900 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $58,492/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
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $58,492 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Fargo
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 17°F
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fargo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$225k less
$254,900 vs $479,400
Fargo
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.3% unemployment
Roswell
Median Income
$58,492
$122,924 vs $64,432/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
68% lower
160.1 vs 498.2 per 100k
Roswell
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roswell leads 13 of 22 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Roswell 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $479,400 median home), income ($64,432 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Roswell, GA are about 1,100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.