Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Fargo, ND

    Is Fargo a good place to live?

    Watch Fargo

    Fargo ranks #5 of 7 North Dakota cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (42/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.4% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $269,800
    +5.8% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $916
    per month
    Household income
    $66,029
    median
    Unemployment
    3.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Fargo

    The median home value in Fargo is $269,800 and median rent is $916 a month, against a median household income of $66,029. Homes cost about 4.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Fargo crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Dakota the 2025 rate was 240 violent and 1,495 property crimes per 100,000 people — #27 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Fargo, ND

    Fargo has about 129,064 residents, 3.9% unemployment and 29% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Fargo with

    Fargo vs BismarckFargo vs Grand ForksFargo vs MinotFargo vs West FargoFargo vs WillistonFargo vs Dickinson

    More: Where to move in North Dakota · Best counties in North Dakota

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report