Poverty and living standards in Fargo, North Dakota: official figures
12.9% of residents of Fargo (16,154 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 381st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; North Dakota: 10.8%).
How many children live in poverty in Fargo?
15.2% of children under 18 in Fargo lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (3,915 children), 409th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; North Dakota: 11.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Fargo?
By age, the poverty rate in Fargo was 12.2% for children under 6 and 7.2% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Fargo live in deep poverty?
7,009 people in Fargo, 5.6% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 386th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Fargo are cost-burdened?
40.5% of renting households in Fargo spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (13,305 households), 37th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; North Dakota: 38.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Fargo spend half their income on rent?
17.5% of renting households in Fargo spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 33rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Fargo are food insecure?
An estimated 11.1% of adults in Fargo experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 97th lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 9.2% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Fargo compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fargo ranks 381 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 378 | Arlington | 12.9% |
| 379 | Santa Fe | 12.9% |
| 380 | Burien | 12.9% |
| 381 | Fargo | 12.9% |
| 382 | West Sacramento | 12.8% |
| 383 | Marietta | 12.8% |
| 384 | Cambridge | 12.8% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fargo ranks 415 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 412 | Framingham | 15.2% |
| 413 | Cambridge | 15.2% |
| 414 | Pasadena | 15.2% |
| 415 | Fargo | 15.2% |
| 416 | Austin | 15.1% |
| 417 | Avondale | 15.1% |
| 418 | Jurupa Valley | 15.1% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fargo ranks 438 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 435 | Burlington | 5.6% |
| 436 | San Buenaventura (Ventura) | 5.6% |
| 437 | Watsonville | 5.6% |
| 438 | Fargo | 5.6% |
| 439 | San Angelo | 5.6% |
| 440 | Perris | 5.6% |
| 441 | Mesa | 5.6% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Fargo ranks 787 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 784 | Eau Claire | 40.8% |
| 785 | West Allis | 40.8% |
| 786 | Sioux Falls | 40.7% |
| 787 | Fargo | 40.5% |
| 788 | Fishers | 40.1% |
| 789 | Greer | 40.1% |
| 790 | Arlington Heights | 40.1% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Fargo ranks 491 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 488 | Millcreek | 11.2% |
| 489 | Kettering | 11.2% |
| 490 | Roseville | 11.1% |
| 491 | Fargo | 11.1% |
| 492 | Rochester | 11.1% |
| 493 | Edmond | 11.1% |
| 494 | Mission Viejo | 11.1% |
More on Fargo: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.