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Fargo, ND

Photo: Wikipedia

Fargo, ND

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 36
Population129,064
Foreign Born6.0%
Population Density2,487people per mi²
Median Age32.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

86/100

14% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Fargo, North Dakota

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$27k
Comfortable $52k$77k
Luxury $119k+$185k+
Elite (Top 5%) $148k+$229k+
Affordability Ratio

86%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean84%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
8
Negative
20

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

0.6mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

0.6mi

Airport

Hector International Airport

3.3mi

Post Office

USPS — Fargo, ND

2.4mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf6Nearest 1.4 mi
Camping20Nearest 14.9 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range5Nearest 2.4 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$66k+2.5%
12% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$729k
11% above US avg
College Educated
43.2%
23% above US avg
WFH
8.1%
43% below US avg
Homeownership
44.1%
33% below US avg
Median Home
$270k
4% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C-
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 59% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
36.2
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−27.6%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−29.1%
Homicide
0.03 / 1k Residents107% above state avg
Robbery
0.55 / 1k Residents197% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.52 / 1k Residents56% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−26.2%
Burglary
5.25 / 1k Residents167% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
23.84 / 1k Residents123% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
3.30 / 1k Residents126% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+18Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Fargo, North Dakota
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Inherited from parent state — no local data available.

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B
Fair8.8% of income
Property Rights
B-
GoodIJ Grade B-
Firearm Rights
B
GoodFPC Grade B
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Net exporter (500% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A-
Broadly LegalMedical + Decrim.

Homesteading

Growing Season155 days192 frost-free
Annual Rainfall25.4"
Elevation909 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C+
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great1208 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,487/sq mi
Fallout Danger
D-
Poor3 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 148 mi · coast 1156 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$81.8M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityMinneapolis430k people are 214 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital189 miBismarck, ND
Nearest Prison1.3 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T05:43:05.000Z

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