Fargo ND vs Lincoln NE — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fargo, ND

North Dakota · Population: 129,064

Median HH Income$66,029
Median Home Price$318,584
Unemployment3.9%
Bachelor's+43.2%

Lincoln, NE

Nebraska · Population: 291,932

Median HH Income$69,991
Median Home Price$293,233
Unemployment3.3%
Bachelor's+40.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fargo

129,064

Lincoln

291,932

Lincoln +

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fargo

N/A

Lincoln

N/A

Median Age

Fargo

32.2

Fargo +

Lincoln

33.4

Foreign Born

Fargo

9.7%

Fargo +

Lincoln

9.2%

White

Fargo

80.8%

Lincoln

80.9%

Lincoln +

Black

Fargo

8.3%

Fargo +

Lincoln

4.2%

Asian

Fargo

3.9%

Lincoln

4.5%

Lincoln +

Hispanic

Fargo

3.7%

Lincoln

8.8%

Lincoln +

Spanish at Home

Fargo

N/A

Lincoln

N/A

Metric	Fargo, ND	Lincoln, NE	Better
Population	129,064	291,932	Lincoln +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	32.2	33.4	Fargo +
Foreign Born	9.7%	9.2%	Fargo +
White	80.8%	80.9%	Lincoln +
Black	8.3%	4.2%	Fargo +
Asian	3.9%	4.5%	Lincoln +
Hispanic	3.7%	8.8%	Lincoln +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fargo

$66,029

Lincoln

$69,991

Lincoln +

Per Capita Income

Fargo

$42,212

Fargo +

Lincoln

$39,187

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fargo

$71,089

Fargo +

Lincoln

$66,354

Unemployment Rate

Fargo

3.9%

Lincoln

3.3%

Lincoln +

Poverty Rate

Fargo

12.8%

Lincoln

12.6%

Lincoln +

Bachelor's Degree+

Fargo

43.2%

Fargo +

Lincoln

40.9%

Metric	Fargo, ND	Lincoln, NE	Better
Median HH Income	$66,029	$69,991	Lincoln +
Per Capita Income	$42,212	$39,187	Fargo +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$71,089	$66,354	Fargo +
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.3%	Lincoln +
Poverty Rate	12.8%	12.6%	Lincoln +
Bachelor's Degree+	43.2%	40.9%	Fargo +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fargo

$318,584

Lincoln

$293,233

Lincoln +

Homeownership Rate

Fargo

44.1%

Lincoln

55.8%

Lincoln +

Metric	Fargo, ND	Lincoln, NE	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$318,584	$293,233	Lincoln +
Homeownership Rate	44.1%	55.8%	Lincoln +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fargo

288

Fargo +

Lincoln

294

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fargo

2037

Lincoln

1960

Lincoln +

Metric	Fargo, ND	Lincoln, NE	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	288	294	Fargo +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2037	1960	Lincoln +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fargo

34.3%

Fargo +

Lincoln

35.1%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fargo

8.1%

Fargo +

Lincoln

9.5%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fargo

14.5%

Fargo +

Lincoln

15.2%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fargo

6.8%

Fargo +

Lincoln

9.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fargo

21.5%

Lincoln

20.6%

Lincoln +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fargo

11.8%

Fargo +

Lincoln

12.5%

Metric	Fargo, ND	Lincoln, NE	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	34.3%	35.1%	Fargo +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	8.1%	9.5%	Fargo +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	14.5%	15.2%	Fargo +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	6.8%	9.6%	Fargo +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	21.5%	20.6%	Lincoln +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	11.8%	12.5%	Fargo +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fargo

42.4°F

Fargo +

Lincoln

51.6°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fargo

22.6 in

Fargo +

Lincoln

29.0 in

Metric	Fargo, ND	Lincoln, NE	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	42.4°F	51.6°F	Fargo +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	22.6 in	29.0 in	Fargo +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fargo

8.6 µg/m³

Lincoln

7.6 µg/m³

Lincoln +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fargo

75.0%

Lincoln

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Fargo, ND	Lincoln, NE	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.6 µg/m³	7.6 µg/m³	Lincoln +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fargo

17.3 min

Fargo +

Lincoln

20.0 min

Metric	Fargo, ND	Lincoln, NE	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	17.3 min	20.0 min	Fargo +

Which City is Right for You?

Lincoln leads in median household income at $69,991, while lincoln offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $293,233. On public safety, Fargo is safer with a violent crime rate of 288 per 100,000 residents, compared to 294 in Lincoln. Lincoln has a lower unemployment rate at 3.3%, and Lincoln has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fargo scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.3%.

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