Bismarck vs Fargo
Bismarck, North Dakota versus Fargo, North Dakota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Fargo edges out Bismarck on overall objective livability (48 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bismarck | Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $76k | $64k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $44k |
| Home Value | $284k | $255k |
| Monthly Rent | $969 | $900 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.98% | 1.26% |
| Income Tax | 2.50% | 2.50% |
| Sales Tax | 7.04% | 7.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 8.47% | 9.80% |
| Unemployment | 3.1% | 3.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 13°F | 9°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 71°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.0 in | 25.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.5 in | 52.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 239 days | 229 days |
| Summer Humidity | 58°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 63 days | 86 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 85.2 | 38.3 |
| Air Quality | 56 AQI | 57 AQI |
| School Quality | 63.4 | 67.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1847/100k | 2891/100k |
| Property Crime | 3374/100k | 4166/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 73,694 | 127,319 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 31.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.25 | 0.33 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 1.02 |
| Political Leaning | R+42 | Even |
| White (%) | 85.1% | 80.2% |
| Black (%) | 2.5% | 8.5% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.7% | 3.2% |
| Asian (%) | 1.0% | 4.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 8.7% | 4.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 16 min | 16 min |
| Walkability | 9.4/20 | 13.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 387 mi | 220 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.4% | 86.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.10 | 29.53 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bismarck or Fargo more affordable?
- Bismarck has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Bismarck's $43k and Fargo's $44k. Median rent is $969 in Bismarck versus $900 in Fargo.
- Is Bismarck or Fargo safer?
- Bismarck has the lower violent crime rate. Bismarck reports 1847/100k and Fargo reports 2891/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bismarck or Fargo?
- The median home value is $284k in Bismarck and $255k in Fargo, so homes are more affordable in Fargo.