Fargo ND vs Shreveport LA — 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%

Shreveport, LA

Louisiana · Population: 183,483

Median HH Income$48,465
Median Home Price$146,463
Unemployment8.9%
Bachelor's+27.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fargo

129,064

Shreveport

183,483

Shreveport +

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fargo

N/A

Shreveport

N/A

Median Age

Fargo

32.2

Fargo +

Shreveport

37.5

Foreign Born

Fargo

9.7%

Fargo +

Shreveport

2.6%

White

Fargo

80.8%

Fargo +

Shreveport

36.5%

Black

Fargo

8.3%

Shreveport

56.1%

Shreveport +

Asian

Fargo

3.9%

Fargo +

Shreveport

1.5%

Hispanic

Fargo

3.7%

Shreveport

3.9%

Shreveport +

Spanish at Home

Fargo

N/A

Shreveport

N/A

Metric	Fargo, ND	Shreveport, LA	Better
Population	129,064	183,483	Shreveport +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	32.2	37.5	Fargo +
Foreign Born	9.7%	2.6%	Fargo +
White	80.8%	36.5%	Fargo +
Black	8.3%	56.1%	Shreveport +
Asian	3.9%	1.5%	Fargo +
Hispanic	3.7%	3.9%	Shreveport +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fargo

$66,029

Fargo +

Shreveport

$48,465

Per Capita Income

Fargo

$42,212

Fargo +

Shreveport

$33,788

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fargo

$71,089

Fargo +

Shreveport

$55,297

Unemployment Rate

Fargo

3.9%

Fargo +

Shreveport

8.9%

Poverty Rate

Fargo

12.8%

Fargo +

Shreveport

23.6%

Bachelor's Degree+

Fargo

43.2%

Fargo +

Shreveport

27.5%

Metric	Fargo, ND	Shreveport, LA	Better
Median HH Income	$66,029	$48,465	Fargo +
Per Capita Income	$42,212	$33,788	Fargo +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$71,089	$55,297	Fargo +
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	8.9%	Fargo +
Poverty Rate	12.8%	23.6%	Fargo +
Bachelor's Degree+	43.2%	27.5%	Fargo +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fargo

$318,584

Shreveport

$146,463

Shreveport +

Homeownership Rate

Fargo

44.1%

Shreveport

53.8%

Shreveport +

Metric	Fargo, ND	Shreveport, LA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$318,584	$146,463	Shreveport +
Homeownership Rate	44.1%	53.8%	Shreveport +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fargo

288

Fargo +

Shreveport

643

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fargo

2037

Fargo +

Shreveport

2824

Metric	Fargo, ND	Shreveport, LA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	288	643	Fargo +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2037	2824	Fargo +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fargo

34.3%

Fargo +

Shreveport

43.1%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fargo

8.1%

Fargo +

Shreveport

17.6%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fargo

14.5%

Fargo +

Shreveport

20.1%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fargo

6.8%

Fargo +

Shreveport

9.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fargo

21.5%

Shreveport

14.5%

Shreveport +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fargo

11.8%

Fargo +

Shreveport

19.1%

Metric	Fargo, ND	Shreveport, LA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	34.3%	43.1%	Fargo +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	8.1%	17.6%	Fargo +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	14.5%	20.1%	Fargo +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	6.8%	9.6%	Fargo +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	21.5%	14.5%	Shreveport +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	11.8%	19.1%	Fargo +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fargo

42.4°F

Shreveport

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fargo

22.6 in

Fargo +

Shreveport

52.7 in

Metric	Fargo, ND	Shreveport, LA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	42.4°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	22.6 in	52.7 in	Fargo +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fargo

8.6 µg/m³

Fargo +

Shreveport

8.9 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fargo

75.0%

Shreveport

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Fargo, ND	Shreveport, LA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.6 µg/m³	8.9 µg/m³	Fargo +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fargo

17.3 min

Fargo +

Shreveport

20.5 min

Metric	Fargo, ND	Shreveport, LA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	17.3 min	20.5 min	Fargo +

Which City is Right for You?

Fargo leads in median household income at $66,029, while shreveport offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $146,463. On public safety, Fargo is safer with a violent crime rate of 288 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in Shreveport. Fargo has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and Fargo has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fargo scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.3%.

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