Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
San Antonio
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $289/mo less ($900 vs $1,189)
16% less violent crime than San Antonio
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
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
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($198,000 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.6%)
Median income trails Fargo by $4,839/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$4,839
$64,432 vs $59,593/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
16% lower
498.2 vs 594.1 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$57k less
$198,000 vs $254,900
San Antonio
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 14 and San Antonio wins 9. 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $198,000 median home), income ($64,432 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and San Antonio, TX are about 1,206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.