Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Carson
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Fargo
North Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,613 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 17°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fargo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($254,900 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $915/mo less ($900 vs $1,815)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $38,613/yr
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$38,613
$103,045 vs $64,432/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
16% lower
420.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
Fargo
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$361k less
$254,900 vs $616,000
Fargo
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fargo
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $254,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $64,432 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 24.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Carson wins 11 and Fargo wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Carson to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $254,900 median home), income ($103,045 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Fargo, ND are about 1,435 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.