Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Fremont
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $977k less ($254,900 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1924/mo less ($900 vs $2,824)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $104,591/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
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $104,591 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Fargo
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 17°F
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Fargo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$977k less
$254,900 vs $1,231,500
Fargo
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 77.0°F
Fremont
Median Income
$104,591
$169,023 vs $64,432/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
61% lower
195.7 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 228,795 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 60.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Fremont wins 13. 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 Fargo to Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($64,432 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Fremont, CA are about 1,431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.