Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
47% less violent crime than Tulsa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $7,784 more per year on average
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 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
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($174,200 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fargo by $7,784/yr
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Median Income
$7,784
$64,432 vs $56,648/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
47% lower
498.2 vs 941.9 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.4 on the COL index
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$81k less
$174,200 vs $254,900
Tulsa
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $958 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 12 and Tulsa 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 Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $174,200 median home), income ($64,432 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Tulsa, OK are about 743 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.