Newly Married - Moorhead or Fargo? (East Grand Forks, Dakota: apartment, rentals, house)

[mike312]

Hi all. We will be living in an apartment and I'm wondering if it will be cheaper to live in Fargo or Moorhead? If I live in Moorhead and work in Fargo, do I pay Moorhead taxes? I'm wanting to keep as much of my paycheck as possible. Thanks.

[disneyrecords]

You pay income tax based on the state in which you reside. As a renter, live in North Dakota. When it comes time to buy a house, you decide if North Dakota property taxes outweigh Minnesota income tax. It might end up being a wash. Personally, I think the North Dakota side of the Fargo-Moorhead area has more to offer.

Congratulations,
disneyrecords

[kuan]

Just buy your food and clothing in MN.

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by mike312

Hi all. We will be living in an apartment and I'm wondering if it will be cheaper to live in Fargo or Moorhead? If I live in Moorhead and work in Fargo, do I pay Moorhead taxes? I'm wanting to keep as much of my paycheck as possible. Thanks.

I live in East Grand Forks MN and work in Grand Forks ND. The previous posters were all correct. If renting I would for sure live in Fargo-West Fargo ND due to lower income taxes. Now property taxes (if having a house) are higher in ND... so if you own a home it is more of a wash between the two states. That is the way it is with us as we pay less in property taxes than a similar house in ND side...but we make up for it with more MN income tax.

And yes...your income tax is taking out of the state you live in. North Dakota and Minnesota have a reproprocity agreement in that in that if you live in one state and work in the other then you dont have to pay both state's income taxes. Now because we do live in MN and work in ND....we do have to file a simple ND tax form each year to our employer payroll office so that ND taxes are not taken out.

In terms of rentals...Fargo and West Fargo has more choices and you would be closer to more shopping, etc. I would for sure choose Fargo if renting.

Dan

[PurplePrincess]

I lived in both Fargo & Moorehead probably about 8-9 years ago. I now live in the Twin Cities area and I have to agree with everyone. If you rent live in Fargo, If you own a house than go to Moorhead. No matter which one you do rent/own make sure you shop on the MN side. Party on the Fargo side - I missed those days of partying downtown.