Moving to or from Fargo?
North Dakota's largest city on the Red River of the North — a Midwestern tech and healthcare hub anchored by North Dakota State University and Microsoft's largest corporate campus outside Redmond, with winters that genuinely live up to the Coen Brothers movie.
- 130,000 City population
- 260,000 Metro area
- 1871 Founded
- Eastern North Dakota / Red River Valley Region
Why people move to Fargo.
- North Dakota State University and the NDSU Bison football dynasty (10 FCS national titles)
- Microsoft Fargo — the company's largest corporate campus outside Redmond, employing thousands
- Being the economic, medical, and cultural center of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota
- The Fargo Theatre — a restored 1926 art deco movie palace downtown
- The Red River and its recurring spring flood cycles that shape city infrastructure
- Winters that genuinely match the 'Fargo' movie stereotype — and locals' pride in handling them
The Coen Brothers film 'Fargo' (1996) was set mostly in Minnesota, not Fargo — but the movie's famous wood-chipper scene was filmed in North Dakota, and a replica wood chipper is now on display at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center. Tourists can take their photo with the chipper wearing a free trapper hat, which the bureau happily loans out.
Where people live in Fargo.
A quick guide to Fargo's most moved-to neighborhoods.
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Downtown
Walkable historic core with restaurants, breweries, and the Fargo Theatre
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North of Downtown / NDSU
University district with mix of student housing and character homes
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Oak Grove
Established tree-lined neighborhood with older homes and park access
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Southwest Fargo
Newer subdivisions with family-oriented layouts and newest schools
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Hawthorne
Mid-century neighborhood with ranch homes and family feel
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West Fargo / Moorhead MN
Neighboring cities with more affordable housing and suburban feel
Where people spend their time in Fargo.
- Fargo Theatre Downtown
- Plains Art Museum Downtown
- Red River Zoo Southwest Fargo
- Fargo Air Museum West Fargo
- Bonanzaville USA West Fargo
- NDSU Campus North Fargo
Planning a Fargo move.
- Winters are among the harshest of any US metro — -30°F windchills, blizzards, and months of sub-freezing temperatures from November through March
- Red River flooding affects lower-lying Fargo and Moorhead neighborhoods in spring; flood insurance is advisable in flood-prone zones
- NDSU academic calendar drives rental spikes in August-September and May; plan accordingly
- North Dakota has no inheritance tax and moderate state income tax; cost of living runs well below national averages
Moving in Fargo: FAQ.
Is Fargo really as cold as the movie suggests?
Yes — arguably colder than the movie showed. Fargo winters regularly bring -30°F windchills and sustained sub-zero temperatures for days. Snow accumulates from November to April; blizzards can close I-29 and I-94. That said, Fargoans take winter in stride with heated garages, block heaters, and a cultural embrace of cold. Most moving companies are experienced with winter logistics.
How bad is Red River flooding?
Real and recurring. The Red River of the North flows northward (unusual), so spring snowmelt from the south arrives before the northern ice breaks — causing predictable spring flooding. Major floods occurred in 1997 and 2009. Fargo has built extensive flood-protection infrastructure and continues to invest in diversions. Low-lying properties require flood insurance; higher-ground properties generally don't.
Is Fargo affordable?
Yes. Median home prices run 25-35% below national averages, and cost of living is similarly lower. Winters skew the picture (heating costs are high), but summer is pleasant and other expenses are reasonable. North Dakota's economy has held up well through energy-sector cycles, and Fargo's tech/healthcare/education base is diversifying it further.
What's Microsoft Fargo and does it hire locally?
Microsoft's Fargo campus employs thousands in software development, customer service, and support roles. It's the company's largest US site outside Redmond. Microsoft regularly hires locally and recruits NDSU computer science graduates. If you're in tech and considering a move to the Midwest, Fargo's Microsoft presence is a meaningful job-market factor.
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