Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
Springfield
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
58% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $20,982 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°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
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($146,400 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $20,982/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Median Income
$20,982
$64,432 vs $43,450/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
58% lower
498.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.8% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.4 on the COL index
Springfield
Median Home Value
$109k less
$146,400 vs $254,900
Springfield
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $146,400 median home), income ($64,432 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Springfield, MO are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.