Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $714/mo less ($900 vs $1,614)
13% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
22% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Homes cost $70k less ($254,900 vs $324,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
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
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fargo
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Violent Crime
13% lower
498.2 vs 575.8 per 100k
Fargo
Median Home Value
$70k less
$254,900 vs $324,800
Fargo
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 14 and West Palm Beach wins 9. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $324,800 median home), income ($64,432 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.