Home › ND › Fargo, ND Cost of living in Fargo, ND Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 89.1 (US = 100)
How Fargo compares Where Fargo falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 89 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 89 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $328k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $328k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $193 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $193 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.20% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.20% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 290 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 290 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 12.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 12.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 84° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 84° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): -2° — range -2° to 72° across all metros -2° Map of Fargo Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 89.1 metro-area #20 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 97.0 metro-area #119 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.07 metro-area #17 of 200 Median household income $73,641 metro-area #85 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $41,725 metro-area #79 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 33.0 years metro-area #14 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 42.2% metro-area #23 of 200 Foreign-born residents 6.9% metro-area #122 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 55.5% metro-area #192 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 3.11% metro-area #6 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +8.2% metro-area #39 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $327,854 metro-area #91 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.5× metro-area #81 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +3.2% metro-area #44 of 200 Price per square foot $193 metro-area #106 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,700 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,156 metro-area #10 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 863 Median days on market 23 metro-area #134 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.8% state #26 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.04% state #85 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 2.90% Capital gains tax 2.50% state #45 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.20% metro-area #129 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,119 metro-area #127 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 78.8 years metro-area #38 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,000 state #129 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 6.6% metro-area #53 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 79 metro-area #87 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $130 state #107 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 5 Avg commute to work 18 min metro-area #2 of 200 Commute by driving alone 78.4% metro-area #152 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 12.7% metro-area #1 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 12.3¢/kWh state #1 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $111 state #1 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal state #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $70 state #24 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $88 state #190 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,100 state #124 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 80.1 — Relatively Low metro-area #26 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 38 metro-area #25 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 500 metro-area #13 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 93% state #87 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 8,900 metro-area #199 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 12 metro-area #54 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 84°F metro-area #37 of 200 Avg winter low -2°F metro-area #200 of 200 Annual precipitation 22.6" metro-area #39 of 200 Annual snowfall 50.0" metro-area #179 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 57% metro-area #121 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 4a Frost window 05-25 → 09-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 290 state #27 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,100 state #95 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 16 metro-area #190 of 200 Parks 31 Hiking areas 3 Golf courses 9 Shooting ranges 2 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Fargo Major public and private employers in the Fargo, ND area.
Employer Sector Jobs Noridian Mutual Insurance Company Finance Careers → Sanford Health Healthcare Careers → North Dakota State University Education Careers → Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Finance Search → Innovis Health Healthcare Search →
Salaries by occupation in Fargo Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $206,000 Pharmacists $134,910 Physician Assistants $133,990 Financial Managers $133,590 Marketing Managers $124,990 Human Resources Managers $121,520 Lawyers $106,570 Software Developers $103,970 Data Scientists $102,480 Construction Managers $94,640 General & Operations Managers $92,020 Physical Therapists $89,270 Mechanical Engineers $85,910 Civil Engineers $83,410 Dental Hygienists $81,340 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $73,990 Registered Nurses $73,380 Electricians $68,180 Accountants & Auditors $65,680 Web Developers $63,560 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $63,350 Elementary School Teachers $60,440 Real Estate Sales Agents $57,980 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,810 Carpenters $55,740 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $54,220 Graphic Designers $45,510 Medical Assistants $43,320
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
QuiltMap LLC Affiliate disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links —
we may earn a commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
© 2026 SalaryCompareTool. All rights reserved.
A QuiltMap LLC company.
