The Town FilesWest Fargo, North Dakota
City in Cass County · population 38,626 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $321,900
- Household income
- $90,665
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 33.3
West Fargo is a city of 38,626 people in Cass County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $321,900, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of North Dakota towns, more vibrant than 96% of North Dakota towns, more walkable than 94% of North Dakota towns.
How West 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 West Fargo is worth $321,900, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $90,665, which is more affordable than 13% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,111 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Fargo | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $321,900 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $1,111 | $775 |
| Median household income | $90,665 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Fargo
| People | West Fargo | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.1% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 87.3% |
Weather in West 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 51.4 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
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Fargo since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 20, 1957 about 2.0 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 111 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 27, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 132 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 West Fargo itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in West Fargo
14 public schools with 8,689 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST FARGO SHEYENNE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,398 | 13.8 |
| WEST FARGO HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,393 | 13.3 |
| LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,070 | 10.2 |
| CHENEY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 979 | 11.4 |
| FREEDOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 548 | 13.4 |
| BROOKS HARBOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 543 | 13.2 |
| LEGACY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 496 | 14.2 |
| AURORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 491 | 13.6 |
| WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 402 | 13.9 |
| EASTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 400 | 10.0 |
| SOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 380 | 11.5 |
| L E BERGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 359 | 11.2 |
Towns near West Fargo
- Fargo, ND3.6 mi · 125,990 people · home $281,900
- Reile's Acres, ND5.3 mi · 703 people · home $475,600
- Horace, ND6.9 mi · 3,085 people · home $414,500
- Mapleton, ND7.4 mi · 1,320 people · home $310,200
- Moorhead, MN7.6 mi · 44,505 people · home $249,000
- Harwood, ND8.4 mi · 794 people · home $321,100
- Dilworth, MN10.0 mi · 4,612 people · home $261,800
- Oakport, MN10.3 mi · 506 people · home $425,000
West Fargo questions
Is West Fargo, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Fargo scores better for retirees than 25% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 5%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in West Fargo?
The median owner-occupied home in West Fargo is valued at $321,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,665, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,111 a month.
What is the weather like in West 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 51.4 inches of snow.
Does West Fargo get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West 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)