Fargo's metropolitan area, which includes neighboring Moorhead, Minnesota, and West Fargo, N.D., has a combined population in excess of 135,000, making it the largest metropolitan area between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Spokane, Washington. The quality of life in Fargo is considered among the best in the nation.
Cost of living is lower than average, and crime rates are exceptionally low.
In fact, North Dakota had the lowest crime rate in the nation last year, according to the Quinto Press Crime State Rankings . Over the past decade, the Fargo-Moorhead community, as it is commonly known, has earned prominent placement in a number of national surveys and studies. Northwest Technical College also provides two-year courses of study in a number of fields. Extracurricular educational opportunities, such as the nationally recognized summer programs at the Trollwood Performing Arts School , provide yet another avenue for students to explore. Despite its reputation for cold weather, Fargo-Moorhead's weather is temperate much of the year.