Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Fargo
North Dakota
10
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,425 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fargo
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $1147/mo less ($900 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $291k less ($254,900 vs $546,200)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $34,425/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
Fairfield
Median Income
$34,425
$98,857 vs $64,432/yr
Fairfield
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$291k less
$254,900 vs $546,200
Fargo
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $254,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $64,432 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 24.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 13 and Fargo wins 10. 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 Fairfield to Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $254,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Fargo, ND are about 1,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.