Rick's Bar and Liquor sign, 1980
West Fargo’s story
100 years in pictures
Census counts: 707 in 1940, 38,626 in 2020. The archive holds 17 old photos and papers going back to 1980 and 2 maps from 1895 on.
- 1926West Fargo is settled
West FargoND
Trash day: look up yours6 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Billybob2002 · CC BY 4.0
Population
41,175
2025 Census estimate · +6.6% since 2020
Typical home
$365K
+3% in a year
Household income
$91K
median
Median age
33.3
years
Jobs based here
17,151
Balanced
TownGrade
B+
#7 of 23 in ND
Is West Fargo a good place to live?
West Fargo grades B+ overall, 7th of 23 graded towns in North Dakota, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Residents are healthier than 93% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and the median household earns $91K. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: homes are expensive, about $365K for a typical one and 4.8 times the Fargo metro’s $77K median household income. On civic life, just 2 of North Dakota’s 64 towns do worse. 18% of working residents work locally in West Fargo, below the North Dakota town median (39%) but above the median of U.S. towns (8%). On history, just 6 of North Dakota’s 69 towns do worse.
What makes West Fargo stand out
Where West Fargo beats most towns.
A growing town
West Fargo has grown 59% since 2010
25,830 counted in 2010 and 38,626 in 2020; an estimated 41,175 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 6.6% since 2020, after 49.5% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How West Fargo grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Dakota), ordered by how far West Fargo is from typical.
HealthSanford Medical Center Fargo 3.6 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & incomeA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.9 of 20; 4% of households have no car; 0.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listBOpen →SafetyB−Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6 miles of trails; 2% conserved landBOpen →History4 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life1.5 library visits per resident; 2.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to West Fargo: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in West Fargo, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy13.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of West Fargo water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown pickup · day by addressTown site
Register to voteNot requiredNorth Dakota has no voter registration: you show ID at the polls.vote.govWho runs elections hereCass County AuditorCass County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code5807858078 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Jul 30, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in West Fargo.
West Fargo fares better on crime within North Dakota than nationally and has colder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, but it has property taxes 1.6 times the North Dakota norm.
HealthA
For health, West Fargo earns an A
31% of West Fargo adults sleep under 7 hours. Only 2 of the 23 North Dakota towns we compare have a lower share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than West Fargo. CDC measures, 32 in all: West Fargo beats North Dakota on 19 and trails on 1. In West Fargo, 9.3% of adults report frequent physical distress, and 16% get no exercise outside work.
93%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| West Fargo | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 22% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9.3% | 11% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 23% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 31% | 35% |
32 measures vs. North Dakota
19 better12 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | West Fargo | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4.1% | 5.9% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 2.2% | 3.1% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 72.9% | 76.3% |
Sanford Medical Center Fargo
In Fargo · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
93rd
percentile among ND towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB−
On state tests, West Fargo’s schools beat 50% of North Dakota districts
Public schools: the West Fargo 6 school district. Three of its 18 schools are shown below, with the reason for each.
50%of ND districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,103 | C+ |
| West Fargo Sheyenne High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,400 | C |
| Legacy Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 456 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ND on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade C
For cost of living, West Fargo earns a C
The median property tax bill is $3,959, against $2,468 across North Dakota, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
For households in West Fargo, the share who own their home is 64%. A typical home here is worth about $365,000, up 3% in a year, 25% above the North Dakota typical home. The typical rent for West Fargo comes to $1,111 a month.
$365KZillow home value
| West Fargo | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 64% | 56% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,111 a month | $973 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
West Fargo$365K
North Dakota$291K
+3%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
West Fargo: snowy winters and pleasant summers
January nights average 0.2°, colder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 82.3°. The Fargo Hector Intl Ap weather station, 6 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 143 days: shorter than most of the country, but longer than 86% of North Dakota places with climate records.
About 51 inches of snow falls in a winter. West Fargo’s midsummer high comes in at 82°F.
51″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter4–22°
Spring32–53°
Summer57–80°
Fall35–55°
Sep 30
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
About two in three of West Fargo’s working residents commute to Fargo
Jobs based here grew from 10,636 in 2013 to 17,151.
In West Fargo, the average trip to work is 17 minutes. Jobs based in West Fargo grew to 17,151 in 2023, 6,515 more than in 2013. The median commute is under 4 miles. The top destinations are Fargo (64%), Moorhead (4%) and Bismarck (2%).
18%work in town
| West Fargo | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 16 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $91,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 10% | 5.5% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In West Fargo18%
Fargo64%
Moorhead4%
Bismarck2%
Grand Forks1%
4 mi
median commute distance
17,151
jobs based in West Fargo
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 67% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
West Fargo has a low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
Expected losses in West Fargo break down as 36% from inland flooding and 19% from tornadoes. FEMA expects less storm and flood damage here than in 64% of U.S. communities. Also worth knowing: since 1978, 266 flood insurance claims have been paid out locally.
36risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
266
paid flood claims since 1978
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
West Fargo skews younger than North Dakota
Just over two in five adults 25 and older hold at least a bachelor’s degree, against 33% across North Dakota. People 65 and older are just over one in ten residents (17% statewide). Since 2020, West Fargo has grown 6.6%, to 41,175 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. In West Fargo, 26% of residents are under 18.
33.3median age · ND 35.9
| West Fargo | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 42% | 30% | 29% |
| Median age | 33.3 years | 34.3 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 12% | 13% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 26% | 27% | 22% |
West FargoNorth DakotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school18%
Some college22%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.4 points. Across North Dakota, 48.8% of residents are women. Median age: women 32.8, men 33.7.
| West Fargo | ND | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14.9% | 13% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.2% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 11.2% | 11.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.7% | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.1% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.4% | 10.1% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 8.2% | 11.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.2% | 9.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.2% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3% | 6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 17.9% | 25.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.8% | 21.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 15.1% | 14% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.2% | 23% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.9% | 9.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
OutdoorsB
2.2% of the land in West Fargo is protected from building
6.1 miles of trail in 19 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Rendezvous Park, at 77 acres. In West Fargo, the trail network density is 0.4 miles per square mile.
#19for trails in ND
| West Fargo | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.2% | 2.8% | 4.3% |
2.2%
conserved · 233 of 10,432 acres
6.1 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. North Elmwood Park | 0.3 mi | 19 |
| 2. Rendezvous Park | — | 77 |
| 3. South Elmwood Park | — | 44 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyB−
Crime per resident in West Fargo is lower than in 51% of U.S. towns
At 18.1 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 67% of North Dakota’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 611 to 470 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
West Fargo’s property crime rate stands at 9.5 per 1,000 residents. For West Fargo, the violent offense rate is 1.8 per 1,000 residents.
51%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| West Fargo | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 9.5 per 1,000 residents | 16.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.8 per 1,000 residents | 2.6 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
West Fargo1.8
North Dakota2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
West Fargo9.5
North Dakota14.9
U.S.15.5
51st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
67th
percentile among ND towns
76
violent crimes reported in 2025
394
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Nearby attractions
All 9 attractions →Fargodome and 5 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around West Fargo. Close and well known come first.
6 mi Stadium & arenaFargodome
5 mi MuseumPlains Art Museum
3 mi Zoo & aquariumRed River Zoo
2 mi MuseumBonanzaville, USA
6 mi MuseumFargo Air Museum
6 mi MuseumRourke Art MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Fargodome: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 · Plains Art Museum: AJ LEON, CC BY 2.0 · Red River Zoo: BrielleMary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bonanzaville, USA: Fargo-Moorhead CVB, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Fargo Air Museum: Fargo-Moorhead CVB, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rourke Art Museum: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about West Fargo
20pages on West Fargo
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 50% of ND districts · 18 schoolsSafetyB−1.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than ND on 19 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$365K typical home · up 3% in a yearWork & commuteA−$91K median household income · 17,151 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 36% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of West Fargo
Rasmussen University-North DakotaUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Fargo2.8 mi$13,957 tuitionNorth Dakota State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Fargo5.5 mi$11,110 in-state tuitionConcordia College at MoorheadUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Moorhead, MN6.5 mi$31,170 tuition
About 7 of every 100 West Fargo residents are enrolled in college, about the same as North Dakota.
Famous people from West Fargo
4 notable people were born in West Fargo.
About West Fargo
City in North Dakota, United States
West Fargo is a city in Cass County, North Dakota, United States. West Fargo is classified as the western neighboring city of Fargo. The population was 38,626 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 41,027 in 2024, making it the fifth-most populous city in North Dakota. It is part of the Fargo–Moorhead, ND-MN metropolitan area. It is one of the state's fastest growing cities.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1926
- Area
- 15 sq mi
- Elevation
- 896 ft
- ZIP code
- 58078
- Area code
- 701
West Fargo’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with West Fargo.
FargoMapleton TownshipBarnes TownshipReed TownshipRaymond TownshipHoraceWest Fargo
How the neighbors grade
| Town | ND rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Fargo | #7 | B+ | C | B− | B− | A |
| Fargo | #18 | C+ | C+ | D | B− | A |
| Mapleton Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Barnes Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Reed Township | — | — | C+ | — | B− | A |
| Raymond Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Horace | #11 | B | C− | — | B− | A |
Reed Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Reed Township and Horace report no FBI crime data of their own. Mapleton Township, Barnes Township and Raymond Township aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare West Fargo with a neighbor →
Questions about West Fargo
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is West Fargo, ND a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. West Fargo grades B+ overall, better than 69% of U.S. towns and #7 of 23 in North Dakota. It grades A for health, B− for safety and B− for schools.
Is West Fargo, ND expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
What is West Fargo, ND known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Matt Strahm and Andy Young.