The Fargo metro is home to 254,914 people (up 7.6% over five years), with a median household income of $75,523. Typical rent of $1,103/month works out to 17.5% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Fargo's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 28.7% |
| Retail trade | 10.5% |
| Professional & management | 10.2% |
| Manufacturing | 8.6% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.4% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 17.5% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Fargo market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,103/month suggests a household income around $44,000/year. The metro's median household income is $75,523.
By workforce share: Education & health care (28.7%), Retail trade (10.5%), Professional & management (10.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).