Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 14 of 23 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
Sterling Heights
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $315/mo less ($900 vs $1,215)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $10,949/yr
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
54% less violent crime than Fargo
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,949 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$10,949
$75,381 vs $64,432/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
54% lower
229.2 vs 498.2 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$12k less
$243,400 vs $254,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 31.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 32.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Sterling Heights wins 14. 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 Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $243,400 median home), income ($64,432 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Sterling Heights, MI are about 738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.