Fargo, ND vs Bismarck, ND
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bismarck, ND and Fargo, ND spend within 6.9% of each other per resident — $14,170 versus $13,250 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Fargo, ND edges Bismarck, ND on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 64/100 (grade C) to 60/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Fargo, ND carries the lighter load at $1,266 per resident versus $1,499 for Bismarck, ND. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Fargo, ND at $1,205 per resident and in Bismarck, ND at $1,065.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 8% of total revenue in Fargo, ND and 22% in Bismarck, ND.
Summary
Bismarck spends 6.5% more per capita than Fargo ($920/person difference). Fargo, ND has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 64/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $292 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $1,029 | $998 |
| Income Tax | $1,364 | $1,341 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,065 | $5,654 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,017 | $2,652 |
| Other | $2,985 | $3,626 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $45 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $241 | $663 |
| Highways & Roads | $216 | $123 |
| Public Welfare | $1,537 | $1,581 |
| Health | $409 | $404 |
| Hospitals | $127 | $26 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,205 | $1,065 |
| Housing | $1,862 | $3,590 |
| Sewerage | $204 | $143 |
| Utilities | $2,262 | $2,252 |
| Interest on Debt | $865 | $725 |
| Other | $4,277 | $3,599 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.