Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Fargo leads 14 of 21 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Worcester
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $412/mo less ($900 vs $1,312)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Homes cost $51k less ($254,900 vs $305,600)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Fargo
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 17°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.6%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$1,421
$64,432 vs $63,011/yr
Fargo
Median Home Value
$51k less
$254,900 vs $305,600
Fargo
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fargo leads 14 of 21 categories. Fargo wins 14 and Worcester wins 7. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $305,600 median home), income ($64,432 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Worcester, MA are about 1,266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.