Fargo is located on the Red River and is North Dakota’s largest city and historically known as the “Gateway to the West.” Fargo is also known for its low unemployment rate and varied career opportunities. This encompasses several fields – from tech roles at Microsoft to manufacturing and logistics jobs to healthcare positions with Sanford Health – options abound here. Sanford also recently opened the largest trauma center in the region on the city's western edge. Fargo's desirability is reflected by its consistent population growth. The population has more than doubled since 1980, going from roughly 61,000 residents to more than 130,000 residents today. This fact also led Forbes magazine to name Fargo as one of the fastest-growing small cities in the country.
In addition to its thriving industry, Fargo also has a lively Downtown area, colorful art scene and vibrant atmosphere that supports its slogan, “North of Normal.” Many of the city's brick buildings located throughout Downtown are covered by murals, showcasing the community’s artistic flair. Nearby, the Fargo Theatre, a restored Art Deco movie theater, dates back to 1926 and features film festivals and community events. It’s a town where the buffalo roam – bison statues are situated throughout the city, and are painted by local artists, lending an air of color and whimsy to Downtown. At the same time, organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and Folkways strive to keep Fargoans busy with events throughout the year.
Downtown Fargo has many art murals throughout the neighborhood to enjoy.
Downtown Fargo has an eclectic collection of architecture spanning its 150 year history.
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Housing trends for a growing population
Home prices in Fargo are increasing with market demand, but overall, it’s doing better than most cities in the US. “The market here has always been fairly stable,” says Jenny Buhr, Realtor with Trilogy Real Estate and President of Doorsteps Midwest, a non-profit that offers education for first-time homeowners. “The market is fairly conservative around here, so even in the crash of 2006 to 2007, it didn’t really affect us that much.” Mary Schimke, Realtor with Archer Real Estate Services, agrees. “We’re not like a lot of the other areas of the country, that are seriously affected by the economic ups and downs - we’re a little more insulated.”
The median housing price in Fargo is around $450,000, slightly higher than the national median price. The city is working to grow the housing inventory to match its continued population growth rate. According to Fargo’s Department of Planning & Development, the city currently has over 23,000 single-family properties and 24,000 apartment complexes and anticipates adding 15,000 more by the year 2045. Currently, there are 38 residential neighborhoods in the city, with most of the growth focused on the southern and southwestern edges of suburban neighborhoods like Bennett, Maple Valley and Points West. “South Fargo is where the growth is – North Fargo is limited by growth because of North Dakota State's campus and the airport,” says Donna Heck, Concierge Strategist for the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce.
A row of beautifully resorted historic homes in the Hawthorne neighborhood.
From four squares to tudors there are many different style homes in the Roosevelt neighborhood.
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Galleries, museums and performances
Downtown has multiple galleries lining the streets, plus private theaters that hold performances by the city’s opera, symphony orchestra, dance company and choral groups. The Plains Art Museum is the largest museum of art in North Dakota and features over 4,000 local, regional and national exhibits, including Native American artwork. The city’s Red River Zoo is home to many native North American animals and other exotic animals, as it specializes in the conservation of some of the rarest cold climate species from across the globe. Other nearby outdoor attractions include the Red River Valley Speedway, the Red River Fairgrounds and the North Dakota Horse Park. Indoors, Scheels Arena is home to the Fargo Force, a minor league hockey team, and hosts concerts throughout the year.
Every year, Downtown Fargo holds the Downtown Fargo Street Fair, which offers a selection of arts, crafts and culinary experiences. Regarding performance-based work, North Dakota State University’s Performing Arts Department is a primary source for the city. Its Challey School of Music and Department of Theatre Arts routinely offer performances for the greater Fargo community. Additionally, Hedrick says, “There are a lot of national touring artists who will stop here and perform at the Fargodome.” Winters are celebrated with the Pathways Christkindlmarkt, while Frostival stretches for six weeks from January through February, bringing residents out to beat the winter blues.
Take the kids to see the animals at the Red River Zoo near Anderson Park.
Bring friends and family to the awesome Downtown Fargo Street Fair
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Popular shopping and dining areas
There are two very different major shopping districts in Fargo. The largest mall in the region, West Acres Shopping Mall has four department stores and over 120 specialty stores, along with a museum, a regional art collection and the Touchstone Energy Dinosaur Playland. Surrounding the mall along 13th Avenue there are also name-brand retailers and grocery stores. Residents can pick up their daily essentials from Target, Menards, Walmart Supercenter, or Lowe’s. There are also numerous chain restaurants and fast-food options.
Downtown Fargo is a walkable area with clothing boutiques, antique shops, home goods stores, gift shops and novelty stores along Broadway North. Coffee shops offer something warm for the walk, while dining options range from classic American fare to brunch options, international food and upscale dining. Local restaurants boast James Beard nominations, including Nova Eatery, Luna Fargo and Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café. While others focus on the bounties of the plains and local ingredients, highlighting cuisine that comes from the unique blend of European and native cultures – think high-end takes on the Dakota hot dish or caramel rolls, the state’s defining dessert. Other options include international fare, with Mexican, Asian and African restaurants demonstrating the increasingly diverse population. Downtown is also home to craft breweries, including the nationally recognized Drekker Brewing Company, which is home to the Brewhalla dining and event space.
Walmart is a popular retail store in Fargo that offers groceries and home goods.
West Acres Mall offers Fargo shoppers over 12 stores and an amazing food court.
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Fargo’s natural areas, parks and outdoor attractions
Fargo is known for its flat prairie landscape and open skies. “We’re in the northern plains, so people can do a lot of outdoor activities. We’re a flyway for waterfowl hunting,” Hedrick says. Naturalists can observe local wildlife at the various Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative sites located throughout the city and preserved by the Audubon Society to protect these flyways. The Red River, the border between North Dakota and Minnesota, splits Fargo from its sister city of Moorhead. The river is also a source of recreational activities, including kayaking and fishing, one of Fargo’s most popular outdoor activities.
Fishing is so popular, that, in addition to over 150 parks and recreational facilities, the Fargo Parks District maintains a pair of urban fishing ponds. These unique and accessible ponds are stocked with trout, bass, perch and pike so that anglers of all ages can fish in a safe, controlled environment. The Parks District also maintains over 2,800 acres of land, which includes over 105 miles of scenic trails, four skate parks, four dog parks and six public golf courses.
With such a severe cold season, indoor activities are equally important in Fargo. Indoor and outdoor skating rinks are found across the city, and the Parks District recently opened the Fargo Parks Sports Center, a sports and rec complex with extensive indoor facilities including a turf field, a walking track, basketball courts and more.
The Red River that runs through the park is a popular spot for fishing, kayaking and picnics.
People love skating on the outdoor ice rinks in Fargo.
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Cass County’s top-performing school districts
Children living in Fargo have two school districts where they can get an education: Fargo Public Schools and West Fargo Public Schools. Earning a B-plus rating from Niche, Fargo Public Schools serves roughly 11,300 students with 16 elementary schools, three middle and one high school. Fargo Davies and North High School earn A-minus Niche grades, and North has a nationally recognized STEM program for technology and engineering. West Fargo Public Schools has a B Niche grade and enrolls around 12,900 students – families living on the city's western edge will go to this district. Oak Grove Lutheran School and the St. John Paul II Catholic Schools provide faith-based private education options.
Additionally, Fargo is home to North Dakota State University. NDSU enrolls nearly 12,000 students and holds an R1 Carnegie Classification, listing it as a top research institution. The university has a large presence Downtown, with several academic buildings and most students living off-campus in the nearby Roosevelt neighborhood.
Fargo South offers diverse programs to prepare students for the future.
North Dakota State University makes Washington somewhat of a college neighborhood.
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Traveling around the Red River Valley
Commuting in Fargo is easy – “We have an average commute time of 18 to 20 minutes,” says Heck. Fargo’s highway system is key, with Interstate 94 traveling east to west and Interstate 29 traveling north to south. Drivers can also take U.S. Routes 75 and 10 to get around the city. The city has a large network of bikeways, and Downtown is a designated Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Zone. The MATBUS public bus service has 20 fixed routes in and around Fargo, although they are mostly limited to the region surrounding Downtown and NDSU. The Fargo Train Station offers service as far west as Spokane and as far east as Chicago. Hector International Airport is on the city's northern edge and has five major airlines offering non-stop flights across the country. The 2024 ground-breaking for a terminal expansion will help with passenger and cargo traffic as the city continues to bring in more travelers – four additional gates, a new parking garage for 1,000 vehicles and an enclosed walkway are all part of the planned updates. In addition to the Sanford Health Medical Center, Essentia Health also provides 24-hour emergency care, close to downtown.
Crime, the environment and other things to know
According to FBI data, Fargo's reported violent crime rate is higher than the national rate. Year-over-year, from 2022 to 2023, the department reported a decrease in overall crime, though shoplifting rates rose by 26%.
Fargo's weather is notorious, says Buhr. “It gets triple digits above and then double digits below. We usually have a week or two of 100-plus weather, but then it’s pretty standard that you plug in your car here in the winter to heat the engine block.” Aside from the annual temperature swings, which can include weeks of subzero temps in the winter, Fargo is also at the top end of tornado alley. While the famed Fargo tornado in 1957 was the deadliest tornado to date for the state – and was crucial to the development of the Fujita scale for rating tornadoes – it has not repeated itself. North Dakota sees 29 tornadoes in an average year, with only a handful threatening Fargo.
The Red River has also impacted Fargo throughout the years, with massive flooding in 1997 and 2009 causing billions of dollars in damage. However, the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion Project, a public-private partnership, is a $3.2 billion project to control future flooding. Expected to be completed in 2027, it will move the entirety of the Fargo metro into FEMA’s 500-year floodplain, potentially eliminating catastrophic floods in the future through the use of embankments, aqueducts and a 30-mile stormwater diversion channel.
As a full-time real estate professional, Emily strives to offer superior personal service before, during, and after your transaction. As a REALTOR, her top priority is ensuring her client's happiness and building a relationship of trust, understanding, and friendship. Her expertise and negotiation skills ensure her clients get the best in the market, buying and/or selling. Knowledge, commitment, honesty, and professionalism are the foundation of her business, and she makes the time to always be available to her clients- anytime, anywhere!
Emily was born and raised in North Dakota. After graduating with a bachelor's degree from NDSU, she decided to make Fargo home! Outside of real estate, Emily enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and Frenchie, Luka! You'll find her attending local concerts, visiting the farmer's markets, golfing, or anytime a food truck is in town, she'll be there!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
