Quality of Life

New FM Qualities of Life Articles

Over and over again, the Fargo Moorhead community is ranked among the best places in the country to live, work, attend school and conduct business. Here’s just a few of the recent national rankings that have landed Fargo Moorhead at the top! <download>

Forbes.com has listed North Dakota State University and Fargo as number five in an article called “Top College Towns for Jobs.” The article by Matt Woolsey carries the headline “Post-grads in these 20 metros where job growth is rising should stay put.” The article suggests that research universities are conducive to great environments for business, providing an educated labor force and centers of innovation stemming from university research. To conduct its, Forbes used U.S. metropolitan statistical area data and examined job growth using data from Moody’s Economy.com. The article pegs the percentage of workers in university jobs in Fargo at 2.9 percent and Fargo’s job growth since 2008 at 2.45 percent. (May 2009)

A report from the American Lung Association names Fargo Moorhead as the only city listed as the best city for ozone pollution, short-term particle pollution and long-term particle pollution. The rest of the state of North Dakota earned 100 “A” grades for air quality. (April 2009)

Fargo Moorhead has topped a list of 72 areas studied by Earth Day Network and ranked for environmental health. The study looked at more than 200 indicators including parks, commute times, recycling rates and population density. Fargo scored best in the areas of air quality, drinking and surface water, and toxins and waste. (April 2009)

Fargo Moorhead ranked number 15 on the Best U.S. Cities for Job Growth published on NewGeography.com in connection with Forbes. The ranking emphasizes the robustness of a region’s growth and includes all metropolitan statistical areas for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports monthly employment data. Fargo Moorhead was number seven on the list of Best Small Places for Business and Careers. Some of the areas taken into consideration in compiling the rankings are cost of doing business (based on cost of labor, energy, taxes and office space), cost of living (based on cost of housing, utilities, transportation and other expenditures), crime rate, educational attainment, job growth and projected job growth. (April 2009)

In 2009 rankings released by CQ Press, Minnesota took the top spot for a second consecutive year as the number one “Healthiest State” in the nation. North Dakota ranked fourth safest state and Minnesota ranked 18th, both down one place from 2008. (March 2009)

Fargo ranked seventh best city for women in the January/February issue of Women’s Health Magazine, which looked at 100 of the largest cities in the United States and based its rankings on 38 factors such as cancer rates, air quality and the number of gym memberships. Fargo Moorhead ranked first in length of life and came in as the 27th healthiest and 58th fittest city. Men’s Health magazine ranked cities for the opposite sex. Fargo Moorhead ranked 14th overall on the men’s list – down from sixth in 2008 and came in at second for quality of life. (December 2008)

Fargo Ranked Eighth in the list of 25 Best Markets to Find a Job released by MSN and CareerBuilder.com. Three hundred sixty-nine urban metropolitan cities were ranked. Factors considered included unemployment rates an djob growth. Fargo was one of only nine areas in the survey that registered unemployment rates under three percent. (October 2008)

Fargo Moorhead was named the fifth healthiest place to live and retire in America by AARP The Magazine in its September/October 2008 issue. AARP evaluated over 20 measures of vitality and incorporated not only the physical aspects of a community (clean air and water), but also the health and habits of people who live there, taking into special consideration the health needs of people age 50+. In announcing the list, AARP stated Fargo Moorhead ranks #9 in the nation for regular flossing and brushing; it has one of the best air quality index scores; uses biodiesel fuel to power its transit buses; and it has made a serious commitment to incorporate methane-powered generators, solar panels, and wind generators in to the city’s infrastructure. (July 2008)

Fargo Moorhead was number 46 on the list of Best U.S. Cities for Doing Business, released by Inc.com. When compared with small cities with similar population, Fargo Moorhead rose in the ranks to number 28. The Inc.com list focuses on short- and long-term job growth, outlining not just where jobs are being created, but where the momentum is shifting. (July 2008)

Fargo Moorhead was number 88 in Money magazine’s list of the top 100 best small cities in the nation. The magazine cites Fargo’s strengths as a cultural college town with a strong nightlife, economy and medical industry, calling it “one of the most dynamic places in the famously frigid north.” Money ranked cities with populations of 50,000 to 100,000. (July 2008)

North Dakota Ranked First in Road Maintenance by the Reason Foundation in its June 2009 report on the performance of state highway systems, road conditions and expenditures. North Dakota ranked first in the nation for maintaining its roads and bridges, was first in overall performance and tied for first for best urban interstate condition and for its lack of urban interstate congestion. (June 2008)

Minnesota placed second and North Dakota seventh in the KIDS COUNT ranking of U.S. states for child well being. Key indicators studied include percent of low birth weight babies, infant mortality rates, child death rate, teen death rate, teen birth rate, percent of teens who are high school dropouts, percent of teens not attending school and not working, percent of children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment, percent of children in poverty and percent of children in single-parent families. KIDS COUNT is an initiative of The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (July 2007)

For the third year in a row, North Dakota led the nation as the least expensive place for a family of four to vacation. While AAA recommends travelers budget $244 per day on national average for 2008 travels, those vacationing in North Dakota can enjoy a budget much smaller – approximately $85 less than the national averages. According to AAA’s Annual Vacation Cost Survey, North Dakota has an average daily cost of $159 for food and lodging. (May 2008)

Fargo has been named one of the cleanest cities in America, according to the American Lung Association’s State of the Air: 2008 report. The rankings were based on ozone pollution levels produced when heat and sunlight come into contact with pollutants from power plants, cars, refineries and other sources. Fargo and Salinas, California were named the cleanest cities. (May 2008)

Fargo Moorhead ranked ninth in the nation for dental health and oral hygiene, according to the April issue of Men’s Health magazine. The study used statistics from the Centers for Disease Control for dental visits, teeth pulled and fluoridation of water. Flossing statistics came from Mediamark Research, a marketing research firm. (April 2008)
Fargo was number 24 in Fortune Small Business magazine’s top 100 Best Places to Live and Launch a Business in 2008. The magazine “scoured the country for towns that combine a great business environment with alluring leisure opportunities.” Editors took into account economic conditions, natural beauty, affordable housing and easy access to diversions such as museums and fishing. The list appeared in their April 2008 issue. (April 2008)
Forbes magazine ranked Fargo Moorhead eleventh on a list of the Best Small Metro Areas for Business and Careers. One hundred seventy-nine cities with populations less than 235,000 were ranked. Factors considered included cost of doing business, cost of living, job and income growth, migration trends, educational attainment and quality of life issues such as crime rates and cultural opportunities. (April 2008)
In 2008 rankings released by CQ Press, Minnesota took the top spot as the number one “Healthiest State” in the nation, with North Dakota securing the number nine spot on the list. Both states made the top ten in the “Most Livable State” category, with Minnesota at number four and North Dakota at number 10. North Dakota was named the third “Safest State” in the nation. (March 2008)
Fargo was named the third greenest
city in America by Organic Gardening magazine in its February/March 2008 issue. The article mentions Metro Area Transit’s “use of biodiesel fuel to power transit buses, which is one reason Fargo’s Air Quality Index is one of the country’s best.” The article also highlights the methane-powered generator, and the solar panels and wind generator that are producing electricity at the Fargo landfill; the city’s distribution of cloth shopping bags to residents; and the 2,000
trees and shrubs planted on
Earth Day 2007. (February 2008)
North Dakota ranked fourth in the nation in state competitiveness according to the 2007edition of the Beacon Hill Institute’s (BHI) annual State Competitiveness rankings. North Dakota has been steadily climbing this ranking since it was first published in 2001. The BHI Index tracks 42 measures within 10 categories including infrastructure, environmental policy, government and fiscal policy, and technology. (January 2008)
North Dakota ranked seventh in the nation in the Best States for Jobs list compiled by Anthony Balderrama of CareerBuilder.com. The study ranked states based on their unemployment rates as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in January 2008. (January 2008)
Our community ranked third in the nation for happiness among women, as reported by Self magazine in its December 2007 issue. The study also placed Fargo Moorhead as the 10th healthiest community for women. Self magazine sorts through data in 50 categories, including accessible health care and safety, to rank the health of U.S. communities. (December 2007)
Expansion Management magazine ranked Fargo in their top 10 Business Opportunity Metros. The fifth annual Mayor’s Challenge is the magazine’s “Best of the Best” ranking of metro areas that have achieved solid ratings in the magazine’s numerous studies throughout the past year. These ratings are used to evaluate the potential of each of the metro areas in the U.S. according to several major categories. Fargo ranked in the 99th percentile for quality of life. With 99 being the highest possible score, Fargo was one of three metros nationwide to receive high Quality of Life marks. (August 2007)
Minnesota was ranked number one and North Dakota number eight in the nation for child well-being. The 18th annual study is part of the 2007 National KIDS COUNT Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The publication provides policy makers and citizens with factual data for making decisions that affect the futures of all children. (August 2007)
On August 9, North Dakota was featured on The Today Show’s “America the Beautiful” series. “Amber Waves of Grain: Discover America’s Farms” highlighted the state’s wheat fields. Ninety percent of the states’ land area is farms and ranches and North Dakota ranks No. 1 in the production of durum and spring wheat. (August 2007)
North Dakota took the top spot for the second consecutive year in the Reason Foundation’s report on the overall performance of state road systems. The Reason Foundation’s study measures the performance of state-owned roads and highways from 1984 to 2005 in 12 different categories, including traffic fatalities, congestion, pavement condition, bridge condition, highway maintenance and administrative costs. North Dakota tied with South Carolina for the top spot. (June 2007)
North Dakota was among eight states profiled for their significant efforts to attract jobs, money and a talented work force in a publication released by the National Governors Associations entitled “Investing in Innovation.” The article states: North Dakota funds public-private centers of excellence that focus on state strengths such as surface protection, leveraging at least a 2:1 match from the private sector. The R&D experience of North Dakota is proof positive that finding a niche – in this instance surface protection – and succeeding flows from strategic thinking and a solid R&D foundation. (July 2007)
Cosmopolitan magazine placed Fargo-Moorhead in their 100 Hot-City Guide, citing the trendy Hotel Donaldson as the “Girls Night Out” locale. In a February 2007 article about Valentine’s Day destinations, USA Today stated, “Forget the Coen Brothers’ black comedy. Far from being a frozen wasteland, Fargo [Moorhead] has the makings for a dreamy weekend – starting with the sophisticated, contemporary Hotel Donaldson.” (July 2007)
According to AAA’s annual vacation cost survey, North Dakota leads the nation as the least expensive place for a family of four to vacation. ND had an average daily cost of $187 for food and lodging, almost $100 lower than the national average. (July 2007)
Forbes magazine ranked North Dakota ninth and Minnesota tenth on the second annual list of the Best States for Business. States were rated on best growth prospects, best labor pools, best regulatory environments, quality of life and low business costs. Minnesota topped the list in terms of best quality of life, while North Dakota was in the top five for low business costs. (July 2007)
Fargo Moorhead ranked in the top 100 metropolitan areas in POLICOM Corporation’s 2007 Economic Strength Rankings. POLICOM rates 363 metropolitan areas on their long-term ability to consistently grow in size and quality. (July 2007)
According to the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2007 report card, Fargo-Moorhead is one on the cleanest cities in the nation. The study graded cities and counties according to ozone pollution, 24-hour particle pollution and annual particle pollution. Fargo-Moorhead was one of only three cities in the country to top all three lists. North Dakota also received straight A’s for its air quality in the eight counties monitored. (June 2007)
Downtown Fargo was featured in a list of ten “Downtown Turnarounds” in the April 2007 issue of Urban Land magazine. Since the inception of the renaissance zone in 1999, millions of dollars have been invested in downtown Fargo, rehabilitating storefronts, converting vacant buildings for commercial and residential use, and sprucing up streets, bringing residents, offices and even nightlife for downtown. (April 2007)
Fargo ranked as one of the 10 best affordable places to live and work, according to an online story posted March 21, 2007, on MSN Real Estate. Based on data provided by Sperling’s Best Places, the story notes that Fargo Moorhead unemployment is the lowest in the country at 2.6 percent, and its central location is turning the city into a leading air-cargo hub. The article states: “Downtown is classic mid-America with a mix of modern buildings and many well-preserved brick structures. Well-kept parks line the waterfront. Fargo is best known as a friendly area with a strong Scandinavian influence and a strong, varied economy including farm-equipment manufacturers and food processors.” (March 2007)
Fargo Moorhead topped the list of U.S. cities ranked on 200 environmental, health and quality of life indicators compiled in the 2007 Urban Environment report released by the Earth Day Network. The report found that Fargo has the lowest percentage of population at risk from environmental hazards. The nation’s 50 largest cities and the largest city in each state were scrutinized in seven categories: toxins and waste; air quality; drinking and surface water; quality of life; parks and recreation opportunities; public health; and global warming and climate change. (February 2007)
Fargo Moorhead topped a list of “15 Great Cities for Job Seekers,” posted on MSN.com on January 16, 2007. The article listed Fargo Moorhead’s unemployment rate at 1.5 percent (obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Sept. 2006), and the mean annual wage at $32,580. Predominant occupations include management, professional and related occupation and the largest percentage of the work force (22.8 percent) is related to education, health and social services. (January 2007)