Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
St. Petersburg, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
St. Petersburg
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $510/mo less ($900 vs $1,410)
20% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Homes cost $34k less ($254,900 vs $289,000)
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
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $5,901/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 17°F
Households earn $5,901 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fargo
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Violent Crime
20% lower
498.2 vs 619.6 per 100k
Fargo
Median Home Value
$34k less
$254,900 vs $289,000
Fargo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$5,901
$70,333 vs $64,432/yr
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | St. Petersburg, 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 | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 93.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs St. Petersburg'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 St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $289,000 median home), income ($64,432 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and St. Petersburg, FL are about 1,527 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.