Cass County, North Dakota

Violent and property crime rates across Cass County remain relatively moderate compared to national averages, although urban centers like Fargo report localized property crime and vehicle theft above rural baseline rates. Overall countywide crime trajectories have remained stable over recent years.

Cass County is primarily anchored by Fargo Public School District and West Fargo Public Schools, both of which demonstrate solid statewide academic rankings, high graduation rates, and extensive AP and career programs.

The Red River basin presents persistent spring snowmelt flood exposure, which has historically driven extensive local diking, floodwall construction, and the multi-billion-dollar Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion project. Wildfire risk is negligible, though extreme severe winter weather, freezing temperatures, and high plains wind events represent the primary property hazard threats.

Cass County serves as the economic driver of North Dakota, bolstered by North Dakota State University, major healthcare systems Sanford Health and Essentia Health, and tech and machinery hubs including Microsoft and Doosan Bobcat. Major ongoing infrastructure investments like the FM Diversion flood mitigation project continue to anchor regional development.

Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. Federal (United States (federal)) — Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Superfund Liens: Establishes a statutory federal lien upon the parcel running in favor of the United States for all unrecovered cleanup costs, damages, and statutory interest incurred by the EPA. Rate and formula: Direct Dollar-for-Dollar Reimbursement (Lien Amount = Incurred Response Costs + Administrative Costs + Federal (United States (federal)) — Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) Withholding: Imposes an affirmative withholding tax obligation on the transferee (buyer) to withhold and remit tax on the gross amount realized (gross sales price). The statutory base withholding rate is 15% of the total purchase price (Formula: Tax = Amount Realized × 15%). Exemptions and reductions: (1) 0% wit Federal (United States (federal)) — Federal General Tax Lien Encumbrance: Under IRC § 6321, a statutory lien arises automatically as of the date of assessment and attaches to all real property owned or acquired by the taxpayer.

The local economy is diversified across healthcare, higher education, software technology, advanced agricultural equipment manufacturing, and financial services, maintaining one of the lowest county unemployment rates in the upper Midwest.

Interstate 94 and Interstate 29 intersect in Fargo, serving as dominant regional commerce and trucking arteries, while MATBUS provides scheduled municipal transit throughout the urban core.

Planning commissions across Fargo and West Fargo are prioritizing southern and western perimeter master-planned residential subdivisions alongside targeted downtown high-density infill.

The Cass County Director of Equalization and municipal assessing offices appraise real property annually based on market value, adhering to North Dakota State Board of Equalization ratio requirements and assessment procedures.

Properties are subject to combined mill levies comprising county government, city jurisdictions, independent school districts, local park districts, soil conservation districts, and water resource districts.

Homeowners insurance rates face upward pressure from wind and hail claims, as well as flood insurance requirements for properties situated inside mapped FEMA special flood hazard areas prior to completion of the FM Diversion.