Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise 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
Surprise
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $922/mo less ($900 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $98k less ($254,900 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $23,324/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
Surprise, AZ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $23,324 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$98k less
$254,900 vs $352,600
Fargo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Median Income
$23,324
$87,756 vs $64,432/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
78% lower
109.1 vs 498.2 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Surprise 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $352,600 median home), income ($64,432 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Surprise, AZ are about 1,224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.