Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Virginia Beach
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $668/mo less ($900 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $89k less ($254,900 vs $343,700)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.6%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $23,112/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
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $23,112 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$89k less
$254,900 vs $343,700
Fargo
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.3% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$23,112
$87,544 vs $64,432/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
81% lower
92.3 vs 498.2 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 94.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Virginia Beach wins 13. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $343,700 median home), income ($64,432 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.