The Town FilesFargo, North Dakota
City in Cass County · population 125,990 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $281,900
- Household income
- $66,998
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 31.8
Fargo is a city of 125,990 people in Cass County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $281,900, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of North Dakota towns, more walkable than 99% of North Dakota towns, more vibrant than 99% of North Dakota towns.
How Fargo ranks
Percentile among North Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fargo is worth $281,900, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $66,998, which is more affordable than 1% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $946 a month. 43.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fargo | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,900 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $946 | $775 |
| Median household income | $66,998 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 43.7% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Fargo
| People | Fargo | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.9% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 87.3% |
Weather in Fargo
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows -2.1°F. About 24.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.7 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 183 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fargo since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 20, 1957 about 1.2 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 114 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 27, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 126 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 29, 2026.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4888: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 15, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4760: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 128,033 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,805 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Fargo itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Fargo
27 public schools with 13,487 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FARGO DAVIES HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,339 | 14.1 |
| NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,112 | 13.2 |
| DISCOVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,005 | 13.1 |
| SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 910 | 11.4 |
| BEN FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 899 | 12.7 |
| CARL BEN EIELSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 639 | 11.0 |
| BENNETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 631 | 17.1 |
| CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 618 | 15.1 |
| INDEPENDENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 588 | 14.7 |
| OSGOOD ELEM SCHOOL | K-5 | 543 | 12.3 |
| DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 517 | 13.3 |
| WILLOW PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 465 | 11.6 |
Towns near Fargo
- West Fargo, ND3.6 mi · 38,626 people · home $321,900
- Moorhead, MN4.0 mi · 44,505 people · home $249,000
- Reile's Acres, ND4.8 mi · 703 people · home $475,600
- Dilworth, MN6.4 mi · 4,612 people · home $261,800
- Oakport, MN7.2 mi · 506 people · home $425,000
- Harwood, ND8.1 mi · 794 people · home $321,100
- Horace, ND8.4 mi · 3,085 people · home $414,500
- Sabin, MN10.1 mi · 619 people · home $265,700
Fargo questions
Is Fargo, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fargo scores better for retirees than 17% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 3%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.8).
How much does a house cost in Fargo?
The median owner-occupied home in Fargo is valued at $281,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,998, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $946 a month.
What is the weather like in Fargo?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows -2.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.4 inches of precipitation a year and 52.7 inches of snow.
Does Fargo get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fargo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 20, 1957. The typical North Dakota town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)